Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois was active with deals again at the 2025 Trade Deadline. The Lightning’s forward core had some gaping holes, and the team has gotten away with cheap, defensive-specialist forwards in their bottom six up to this point in the season.
However, with the recent hot streak of winning 10 of their last 12 contests, BriseBois and Tampa Bay believe they have a chance at a third Stanley Cup this decade. Therefore, the Lightning went out and acquired Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde from the Seattle Kraken. The cost was high, including first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, a second-round pick in 2025, and depth winger Michael Eyssimont.
Teams continue to move away from “pure-rental” acquisitions at the deadline, meaning they want to find players with at least an additional year of term. However, Gourde is 33 years old and is a pending unrestricted free agent as he’s on the final year of his contract. Considering Gourde won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning and remains a fan favorite years later, he likely will take a discount for next season to remain with the Bolts and could even play the rest of his career with the organization. With that said, how will the veteran’s return impact the Lightning forward core, and was a reunion the right move for the organization?
About Yanni Gourde
An undrafted free agent addition by Tampa Bay, Gourde started his professional career in the ECHL and American Hockey League. He spent time within the Lightning’s organization with the Syracuse Crunch before earning a full-time roster spot with the Lightning in the 2017-18 season. Gourde scored a career-best 25 goals and 64 points in 82 games during his first complete season. He hasn’t eclipsed the 50-point plateau ever since but reached the 48-point mark three times across his NHL career.
Gourde was selected by the Kraken at the 2021 Expansion Draft following five seasons and two Stanley Cups in Tampa Bay. Seattle valued Gourde as a leader in a new locker room, naming him the alternate captain for their inaugural 2021-22 season. He was a solid middle-six presence for the Kraken, a reliable two-way, 35 to 50 point player. As he’s gotten older, Gourde has lost some of his speed but remains a good possession player in the offensive zone. Despite his recent return from a sports hernia surgery, Gourde has looked just fine in two games with the Lightning thus far.
Gourde’s Forecheck and Cycle Game
When creating scoring chances, Gourde isn’t the most flashy forward. Rather than controlling zone entries and relying on speed, Gourde prefers to dump a puck into the offensive zone and wear out opponents with his legs and hockey IQ on the forecheck. He ranks at least in the 72nd percentile of forecheck pressures per 60 in the past three seasons, as per Corey Sznajder at All Three Zones.
Once Gourde forces a turnover, he’s reliable at setting up shop in the offensive zone and getting involved in the cycle game. He grades in the 99th percentile of cycle/forecheck offense and point shot setups per 60 as per All Three Zones. In other words, he trusts his defenders at the blue line and utilizes all four of his teammates on the ice to sustain offensive pressure, something the Lightning can use more of in their bottom-six forward group.
Furthermore, the Lightning ranks in the 72nd percentile of one-timers per 60, and Gourde is very good at setting up this deadly shot attempt, or decent at firing one off his stick. He grades in the 93rd percentile of one-timer assists and the 65th percentile of one-timers per 60 this season, so he remains a good fit for the team regarding generating high-danger scoring opportunities. Gourde adds another layer of security and familiarity for Tampa Bay’s coaching staff heading into the playoffs.
Where Gourde Fits in the Lineup
There’s a clear role for Gourde in the Lightning lineup for the rest of the season and playoff run. The Lightning needed an upgrade on their third line as Nick Paul couldn’t carry the load himself. However, Gage Goncalves has looked much better in his second stint with the team since he was sent to Syracuse. The 24-year-old has solidified a roster spot for the remainder of this season and likely opening night in 2025-26. Nevertheless, moving Paul off the third line left a disaster in the bottom six, but adding Bjorkstrand and Gourde solves this. Bjorkstrand will be used on any of the first three lines and power play, while Gourde will be a third-line staple and penalty killer.
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper can keep the duo of Bjorkstrand and Gourde together like in Seattle or they can build a reliable shutdown line with a combination of Gourde and Paul. Ultimately, the Lightning have flexibility and can utilize Gourde at center or wing. Paul has struggled in the faceoff circle at 50.5% compared to his first two seasons with the Lightning, where he won at least 53.7% of his draws. Regardless of his role, the Lightning have a clear top-nine forward group ready to make noise, and Cooper will determine the combinations that work best for his team.
While the price was substantial, the Lightning continue to prove there are benefits to going all in for the Stanley Cup and that the safe approach isn’t always the best for results. Gourde has recorded one assist in two games upon his return to the Lightning; is healthy for another run at the Stanley Cup; and his experience, energy, and cycle game make him an enticing player to have down the stretch.
