In a major move marking the NHL trade deadline frenzy, the Tampa Bay Lightning made significant roster adjustments, reinforcing their lineup to boost their playoff aspirations. This maneuver came in response to the Florida Panthers’ recent activity and involves acquiring forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken in a three-team trade, with the Detroit Red Wings playing a supportive role by absorbing part of the salary to facilitate the deal.
To complete the exchange, the Lightning parted with conditional first-round picks for 2026 and 2027, a second-round pick this year, and winger Mikey Eyssimont to the Kraken, alongside a fifth-round selection heading to Detroit. In return, Tampa Bay also obtained a future fifth-round pick and rights to unsigned prospect Kyle Aucoin. This aggressive strategy by two-time Stanley Cup-winning GM Julien BriseBois underscores Tampa Bay’s commitment to crafting a team primed for a deep playoff run.
BriseBois spoke about the addition of Gourde and Bjorkstrand, conveying excitement over their potential impact. Gourde returns to Tampa Bay from Seattle after recovering from sports hernia surgery, a former key player in the Lightning’s consecutive championships in 2020 and 2021. Bjorkstrand is seen as a valuable asset who, at 30, brings depth to the team.
The economics of the trade were made more favorable by Seattle retaining half of Gourde’s salary and Detroit retaining another portion, lowering his cap hit for Tampa Bay. The first-round picks over the next couple of years come with protections, while additional gains could be awarded to Seattle depending on team performance.
Ron Francis, the GM of the Kraken, expressed the difficult decision to trade the players but noted the strategic advantages and future opportunities it creates for the team, helping in draft capital accumulation and potential enhancements down the road.
BriseBois is optimistic about the future contract prospects of both players, particularly Gourde, who was previously selected in the Kraken’s 2021 expansion draft rather than departing by choice. The Lightning GM has a history of trading draft picks to secure valuable talent, as seen in past trades for players like Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman, David Savard, Brandon Hagel, and Tanner Jeannot.
While the potential for another championship team from Florida continues, navigating the competitive Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference remains a formidable challenge. Concurrently, the Florida Panthers signed goaltender Vitek Vanecek to enhance their own lineup, further intensifying the intra-state rivalry. Vanecek arrives from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Patrick Giles, adding goalkeeping depth alongside Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Sharks, in bolstering their future lineup, also engaged in trades to acquire young talent and draft picks, including the addition of Vincent Desharnais as a defensive asset. Other significant trades in the league saw Luke Schenn and Tommy Novak join the Pittsburgh Penguins as they continue their rebuilding process.
A few players, however, are staying put with their current teams, like Sabres winger Jordan Greenway and Utah’s Alexander Kerfoot, who signed contract extensions to secure their immediate futures within the league, showing that not all teams are opting for change this deadline.
