The Seattle Kraken will be without center Yanni Gourde for an estimated five to seven weeks following his surgery to address a sports hernia.
General Manager Ron Francis shared this information shortly after the operation took place on Friday morning.

This projected recovery period raises the possibility that Gourde may not be able to return in time before the NHL trade deadline, which falls on March 7.
As the Kraken find themselves on the cusp of a playoff berth in the Western Conference, and considering Gourde’s status as a pending free agent, he is likely to emerge as a significant rental option for teams looking to bolster their rosters as the deadline approaches.

At 33 years old, Gourde has accumulated considerable playoff experience, participating in 83 games throughout his career.
He was part of the Tampa Bay Lightning during their consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021 before being selected by Seattle in the expansion draft.
Known for his reliability as a two-way player, Gourde has been averaging over 15 minutes of ice time in 35 contests this season, contributing six goals along with ten assists.