Yanni Gourde appears to be Seattle’s likely selection from the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning, fresh off winning their second of back-to-back Stanley Cups, have a handful of good players for the Seattle Kraken to select in Wednesday’s Expansion Draft.
According to Frank Seravalli, they’re focused on @Yanni Gourde.
Early word is #SeaKraken were focused in on one player from #GoBolts lot: Yanni Gourde. Not entirely clear how tonight will work. Teams wondering if he's the only Tampa player heading to Seattle? Could change. But sense is Gourde will be a Kraken before night is done. @DFOHockey
The Lightning have also exposed @Alex Killorn, @Ondrej Palat, and @Tyler Johnson, but Gourde is likely the strongest option for Seattle.
A key member of both of the Lightning’s Stanley Cup teams, Gourde centred a successful two-way line alongside @Blake Coleman and @Barlcay Goodrow. In 2021, Gourde scored 17 goals and 36 points over the course of 56 games and had an on-ice goal differential of 33-to-28.
Gourde carries a cap hit of $5,166,666 for four more seasons and will immediately give Seattle a veteran pivot for their top-six who plays an effective 200-foot game.
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