The ink has set, Yanni Gourde will remain a Tampa Bay Lightning, and for a long time to come. The 33 year-old veteran forward signed a six-year, $2.33 million (average annual value) deal. The extension keeps him in blue until 2031.
This is a very unique contract for Gourde and the Tampa Bay Lightning. There aren’t many players given long term deals set to end near their 40’s. However, this contract does lend some interesting options for the Lightning, and is something General Manager Julien BriseBois has attempted in the past with players such as Steven Stamkos. The Gourde deal could become a model for other teams to follow in re-signing aging but still effective players.
You do not need to look very deep to see that Gourde’s new deal provides great value for the Lightning in the immediate future. The small two-way forward has spent the majority of his career in Tampa Bay, winning back-to-back Cups with the franchise in 2020 and 2021. Now in the latter half of his career, Gourde is a bottom six, penalty killing forward. His versatility allows coach Jon Cooper to slot into the lineup anywhere he is needed. Swiss army knife players like these are hot commodities, and so to lock up a trusted player to a low cap hit for a long time, is a no-brainer for Tampa.
Certainly there will be some concern about the length of this deal, and the prospective longevity of Gourde, but with the salary cap set to rise in a big way, fans can rest easy. With the cap going up next year to 95.5 million, Gourde’s percentage of cap will be just under 2.5%, and as the cap continues to skyrocket, that percentage will keep going down.
Extension structure allows for maximum flexibility
The structure of this deal also provides Tampa Bay with several options towards the end of this lengthy contract. If Gourde is not healthy enough to play, he can be put on LTIR. If his play falls below NHL standards, most or all of his cap hit can be buried in the minors. And if Gourde is still healthy enough and good enough to play, the Tampa Bay Lightning make out like gangbusters.
Any way you look at it, this appears to be a fantastic deal for both the Lightning, and for Gourde himself. “He’s still a really good player – his speed, his competitiveness, his relentlessness, his fearlessness, he still has all of that” noted Julien Brisbois after trading for Gourde and Seattle Kraken teammate Oliver Bjorkstrand back in March.
Over the 6 years of his first tenure with the Lightning, Gourde put up 187 points (80 goals, 107 assists) in 310 games, as well as 29 points in 69 playoff games, and of course, two Stanley Cups. Gourde’s drive and production in Tampa captured the attention of many clubs around the league, and in 2021, Gourde was taken by the Seattle Kraken during their expansion draft. His arrival in Seattle was well received, and during his time in the rainy city, Gourde amounted 146 points (52G, 94A) as well as helped Seattle advance to their first ever Stanley Cup playoffs appearance.
As the old saying goes, distance makes the heart grow fonder, and when the opportunity for a reunion came, the Lightning jumped at the chance. Sending forward Michael Eyssimont, two 1st round picks, and a 2nd round pick to Seattle, the Tampa Bay Lighting acquired Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand back in March, before the trade deadline.
It is clear how much the Tampa Bay Lightning love and value Yanni Gourde, and they’ve put their faith in him. The Lightning believe that this reunion can mark the beginning of a new window, and that Gourde can help this club get the job done, just as he has done in the past. The last time Gourde played a full season with the Lightning, he hoisted the Stanley Cup. It is now time to see if this new deal helps bring this club back to that summit.
