Lightning Acquire Gourde and Bjorkstrand in Three-Team Trade

Tampa Bay Lightning Make Big Move Ahead of NHL Trade Deadline

The Tampa Bay Lightning have made a significant move ahead of the NHL trade deadline, acquiring forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken in a three-team trade. The Lightning sent conditional 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, a second-round pick this year, and winger Mikey Eyssimont to the Kraken, and a fifth-round pick this year to the Detroit Red Wings, who facilitated the deal by retaining salary.

This move bolsters the Lightning's roster as they look to make a deep playoff run. Gourde was part of the Lightning's back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 2020 and 2021, while Bjorkstrand brings additional scoring depth. The Lightning are currently the hottest team in the league, having won 10 of their last 12 games.

The Kraken retained half of Gourde's salary, while the Red Wings retained another quarter, giving the Lightning a bargain cap hit of just under $1.3 million. The first-round picks are top-10 protected, and Seattle could receive additional compensation as a result.

Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois expressed optimism about re-signing Gourde, who is now back with Tampa Bay at age 33. He also pointed out that trading first-round picks has become a tradition for him, as he has done so for several players in recent years. However, he believes that having a strong lineup is more important than having a lot of draft picks.

The Lightning's move comes in response to the Florida Panthers' acquisition of top-four defenseman Seth Jones from the Chicago Blackhawks. The Panthers also added goaltender Vitek Vanecek from the San Jose Sharks and signed forward Jesse Puljujarvi.

The Sharks, meanwhile, acquired young forward Patrick Giles from the Panthers and defenseman Vincent Desharnais from the Pittsburgh Penguins. They also traded goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to the Colorado Avalanche for Mackenzie Blackwood earlier this season.

With the trade deadline approaching, teams are making moves to improve their rosters for the playoffs. The Lightning's acquisition of Gourde and Bjorkstrand is a significant one, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the postseason.