Welcome back to Tampa, Yanni Gourde.
The Lightning are bringing back one of the key players from their back-to-back Stanley Cup run in 2021-22.
The way the Lightning have played in February convinced GM Julien BriseBois that the team can make a deep playoff run this spring.
The Lightning have sent two first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 to the Seattle Kraken, along with forward Michael Eyssimont, in exchange for Yanni Gourde, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and a fifth-round pick in 2026. The Kraken selected Gourde in the 2021 expansion draft. The Lightning also picked up defenseman Kyle Aucoin from Detroit, who is currently playing at Harvard.
Trading two first-round draft picks means the Lightning will not have a first-round pick until 2028.
Gourde has six goals and 11 assists with the Kraken and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Meanwhile, Bjorkstrand has been a 50-point scorer in his career. This season, he has 16 goals and 21 assists for a total of 37 points. He is signed through the 2026-27 season.
Gourde could slot in a line centered on Nick Paul and see time on a line with Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. Gourde has been out of the lineup recently, recovering from sports hernia surgery, and just returned to the lineup on Tuesday. He is expected to play Thursday night against Buffalo. Bjorkstrand is a very strong defender and forechecker, and will make the Lightning harder to play against.
BriseBois held a press conference after the trade was announced to discuss the new additions to the Lightning team.
“You know what you’re getting (with Bjorkstrand). You’re getting a player who’s really, really intelligent, who can play in all situations, has a real 200-foot game, complements good players because he is a good player himself. I think it’s going to be a really good fit for the players we have right now in the lineup that I expect the coaches to throw out there.”
Speaking of Yanni Gourde, BriseBois said, “His main qualities, his speed, his competitiveness, his relentlessness, his fearlessness, he still has all that. I’m sure his professionalism is still at that high level. His practice habits are still at a high level. He’s going to bring a lot to the table, not just in the games, but just in the environment in general.”
With Gourde being a UFA after this season, BriseBois is confident that he will not be a short-term rental, but he can sign him to a new contract. “We just got him today, but I know how much he enjoyed his time here. He knows all the good we think of him. So I think it’s realistic to hope that we’re going to be able to extend him beyond this season as well. So it’s a trade where we’re getting, I think, better today, better tomorrow.”
The Lightning made some room on the roster by placing Cam Atkinson and Logan Brown, who had a two-way contract but was playing at Syracuse, on waivers.
The Lightning are currently 36-21-4 with 76 points, which is good for third place in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning trail first-place Toronto and Florida by three points.
The Lightning have won eight of their last nine thanks to a committed effort to play defense. Going back to their game on January 31st against the LA Kings, the Lightning are giving up less than two goals per game. That’s the kind of defense that wins you championships.
The Lightning will play the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night and then welcome the Boston Bruins for a matinee affair on Saturday afternoon.