Yanni Gourde knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. He was a major cog of the Lightning teams that won back-to-back Cups in 2020 and ‘21. He centered a third line that provided timely scoring, unparalleled energy and relentless doggedness that’s necessary to win in the playoffs.
His return at the trade deadline provided a glimpse of that game, but the Lightning’s first-round exit — as well as an injury to Gourde’s right ring finger in Game 1 against the Panthers — limited his ability to make an impact.
Now, Gourde, 33, is a pending unrestricted free agent. He tops the list of players that Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois would like to retain.
“It was a lot of fun playing here, playing for the Bolts fans and being with the guys around this locker room,” Gourde said. “I enjoyed all of it. ... We love it here, and we’re hoping to get something done, for sure. I know they have interest. They know that I love it here, so hopefully we can get something done, for sure.”
The Lightning gave up a lot to acquire Gourde and forward Oliver Bjorkstrand, sending two first-round picks to Seattle in the March deal. Bjorkstrand has one more season on his contract before he will become an unrestricted free agent.
After sports hernia surgery in late January, Gourde worked to get healthy in time for the trade deadline. He played one game before the deal that returned him to Tampa and still was getting his legs under him several weeks after joining the Lightning. But by playoff time, he said he felt close to 100%.
“I felt like my core injury felt really good, like, my third week back,” Gourde said. “And then I got in shape enough that I was very comfortable with where my game was at. I worked extremely hard to get to that point right. I felt like the last month of the season I felt really good.”
Head coach Jon Cooper used Gourde in a variety of ways. He spent most of his time in a third-line center role, but down the stretch he saw time on the top line alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. Gourde showed flashes of his old self, setting the pace, jumping into puck battles and making his presence known at the front of the net.
But then he injured his finger April 22 against the Panthers, which set hi back a bit.
“Puck battles were probably a little bit harder to make when you don’t have all your fingers,” he said. “So, that’s the one thing that kind of I wish didn’t happen, but everybody has to deal with injuries. ... It’s no excuse, but it affected me a little bit.”
Even though the number of players from those Cup-winning teams has diminished, Gourde said he has a lot of faith in the Lightning and sees a lot of similarities.
“We weren’t that far off, but we have to find ways to win those games. Your confidence throughout the playoffs, it just builds up as you go. (Florida) had that mojo from last year. I mean, they played a very solid playoff series. In a lot of ways we were close, but not close enough.
“But you look around the room and you see a bunch of competitors, and you see everyone wants to win. No one takes it lightly, and I think that this group is a very good group and we take a lot of pride in winning and details.”
Gourde carried a $5.17 million cap hit on the six-year extension he signed with the Lightning that started in 2019 and likely would need to take a pay cut to stay. But he and his wife, Marie (who have two daughters, Emma and Demi) would prefer to remain in Tampa for the long haul.
“If the opportunity presents itself, then yeah, it’s definitely something I would love, to finish my career here in Tampa,” Gourde said. “I love it here, and hopefully we can get something done.”
