Yanni Gourde is the Tampa Bay Lightning's top pending unrestricted free agent heading into the summer. There are clear reasons for the Lightning to bring back Gourde, but if they are unable to re-sign him by July 1 and he signs elsewhere, they will need to replace him.
Due to this, let's look at three players who could make sense for the Lightning if Gourde walks this summer.
Pius Suter, Vancouver Canucks
If the Lightning end up losing Gourde, Pius Suter could be an excellent replacement for them to add. The 29-year-old just had a strong season with the Vancouver Canucks in 2024-25, setting new career highs with 25 goals and 46 points. With numbers like these, he would undoubtedly give the Lightning's top nine a nice boost offensively.
Another very appealing aspect about Suter is that he can both center and on the wing. Furthermore, his effective two-way plays makes him a valuable asset for the penalty kill, so he would help Tampa Bay in that area. Furthermore, he also works on the power play because of his playmaking ability. With all of this, he could be a great target if the Lightning don't re-sign Gourde.
Jack Roslovic, Carolina Hurricanes
Jack Roslovic is another interesting forward who could make sense for the Lightning if Gourde signs elsewhere this summer. The 28-year-old had a solid season with the Carolina Hurricanes, as he recorded 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games. He also had four points in nine post-season games for Carolina.
If the Lightning signed Roslovic, he could be a nice fit on their third line, whether he plays center or on the wing. He also demonstrated this season in Carolina that he provides solid depth offensive production, which adds to his appeal as a potential target. However, he is more of an offensively-minded player, so it's unlikely he would be an option for Tampa's penalty kill if signed.
Trent Frederic, Edmonton Oilers
Trent Frederic could also make sense for the Lightning to target. He plays an incredibly heavy game like Gourde, so he would be a nice player for the Lightning to have around, especially during the post-season. In addition, he is another forward who has experience playing both center and left wing.
In 58 games this season split between the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers, Frederic had eight goals, 15 points, and 157 hits. While he had a down year offensively, he undoubtedly has the potential to bounce back offensively in the right situation. For example, just back in 2023-24 with the Bruins, he set career highs with 18 goals, 22 assists, and 40 points in 82 games.
