Before the NHL trade deadline passed, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired old friend Yanni Gourde and winger Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken. With the Lightning needing to improve their forward depth at that time, it made sense that they brought the pair in.
Since returning to Tampa Bay, Gourde has made an immediate impact. In 12 games, the 5-foot-9 forward has recorded eight assists, 32 hits, and a plus-3 rating. With numbers like these, he has undoubtedly given the Lightning's top nine a major boost.
With Gourde once again being a clear fit on the Lightning's roster, it is fair to wonder if the Atlantic Division club could look to sign him to a contract extension. There is no question that they missed his contributions when he was with the Kraken, and he is impressing during his second stint with the club.
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Lightning sign F Connor Kurth to a two-year, entry-level NHL contract
The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed forward Connor Kurth to a two-year, entry-level NHL contract beginning with the 2025-26 season, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today. Kurth will report to the Syracuse Crunch and play the remainder of the 2024-25 season on an AHL tryout.
Kurth, 21, skated in 40 games with University of Minnesota this season, recording 18 goals and 39 points with a team-leading four game-winning tallies. The Lindstrom, Minnesota, native finished the campaign with a plus-31 rating, the highest among all Gopher skaters and tied for third in the NCAA. Among all Minnesota skaters, Kurth ranked first for plus/minus, second for goals and tied for second for points. He appeared in 115 career games with the Gophers, logging 32 goals and 71 points with six game-winners.
Kurth was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the sixth round, 192nd overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Lightning acquire F Lucas Mercuri from Carolina Hurricanes
The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired forward Lucas Mercuri from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2025, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today. Additionally, Tampa Bay has signed Mercuri to a two-year, entry-level NHL contract beginning with the 2025-26 season. He will report to the Syracuse Crunch and play the remainder of the 2024-25 season on an AHL tryout.
Mercuri, 23, skated in 40 games with University of Massachusetts this season, recording 10 goals and 31 points with a plus-14 rating and two power-play tallies. Serving as an alternate captain for the Minutemen, Mercuri ranked third on the team for assists, fifth for points and tied for fourth for goals. The Montreal, Quebec, native played in 148 career games with Massachusetts, logging 28 goals and 85 points with a plus-16 rating.
Mercuri was originally drafted by the Hurricanes in the sixth round, 159th overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft.
