The Tampa Bay Lightning are making one other run on the Stanley Cup, buying Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken.
That is going to occur…undecided the way it all seems to be, however perceive key a part of return is 2 first-round picks from Lightning to Kraken.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 5, 2025
As a part of the commerce bundle, the Lightning will get Bjorkstrand, Gourde, who waived their no-trade clauses to go there, and Kyle Aucoin, together with a fifth-round choose in alternate for a first-round choose in 2026 and 2027, Toronto’s second-round choose in 2025, and Micheal Eyssimont.
Seattle will get first spherical choose in 26, first spherical choose in 27, Toronto’s 2nd in ’25 and Eyssimont in commerce with Tampa.
Bolts get Gourde and Bjokstrand plus fifth Rd choose in ’26— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 5, 2025
The Detroit Pink Wings had been concerned as they despatched unsigned defenseman Kyle Aucoin to the Kraken for Gourde, and retained 50 p.c of his wage, then traded Gourde to the Lightning for a 2025 conditional fourth.
The Lightning were setting up something big once they positioned Cam Atkinson ($900,000 AAV) on waivers to provide themselves a bit of over $6 million in cap area. It was the primary time in a few years that the Lightning had precise cap area to accumulate gamers. More often than not, they operated in LTIR. That isn’t in opposition to the principles, however Lightning GM Julien BriseBois was all the time spending to the cap.
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Tampa Bay Lightning
What made Tampa Bay so arduous to play in opposition to of their runs to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, and a 3rd journey in 2022, was how nicely they performed protection. Having Ryan McDonagh again helps, however including a two-way, hard-nosed heart like Yanni Gourde offers the Lightning’s bottom-six a punch that has been lacking for some time. Gourde was an integral piece to the Cup runs.
Yanni Gourde, acquired by TB, is a two-way centre who crashes the online, harrasses opponents, battles, forechecks, and even hits regardless of being solely 5’9. Performs behind the online and extends possessions by defending the puck and making low-to-high passes. Poor of entirety. pic.twitter.com/Q8Xo18lVrZ
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 5, 2025
NHL Rumors: Philadelphia Flyers, and the Seattle Kraken
Not solely do they get Yanni Gourde, however Oliver Bjorkstrand as nicely. He’s one other two-way, good defensive, scoring winger. He’s good for the third-line. Once more, the third and fourth traces powered Tampa to championships. Sure, the highest guys scored, however their bottom-six was among the finest on the time.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, acquired by TB, is a two-way scoring winger who carries the puck in transition and performs a shot-first sport at even power whereas dishing it on the powerplay. Works arduous with out the puck and has defensive stick. Not huge or quick however protects the puck. pic.twitter.com/7Z9tb65KPS
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 5, 2025
Seattle had players that teams wished. Gourde was on the checklist for contending groups searching for heart depth. Oliver Bjorkstrand has one other yr left on his deal. That is much like once they acquired Blake Coleman, who had a yr plus left on his deal.
However these two are not the only players that will be on the move. Brandon Tanev, Jamie Oleksiak, and Jared McCann are names which might be on the market because the Kraken attempt to reshape their roster and picture transferring ahead.
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