Seattle Kraken forward and possible trade candidate, Yanni Gourde, participated in practice in a regular jersey for the first time since undergoing sports hernia surgery.
The 33-year-old hasn't played since Jan. 2. Before undergoing surgery, Gourde had what was labelled a lower-body injury. Twenty-six days later, the Kraken announced that Gourde would be out 5-7 weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery.
It's been just about a month since Gourde underwent the surgery, and the positive signs for a possible return in the near future are great. No exact return date has been given for Gourde, and if the Kraken were following the original timeline, he would still be at least a week away, but practicing with contact is the most vital step that needs to be taken before a player can think about returning.
The 5'9 centre has been hearing his name in trade discussions for quite some time now with many contenders looking to acquire him. The talks quieted down when it was announced Gourde would need surgery, but prior to the announcement, some insiders believed teams would be willing to sacrifice a first-round pick to acquire him.
If Gourde can get into game action before the deadline and show no ill effects, the market should ramp back up. What the Kraken elect to do with Gourde is still undetermined and could be one of, if not their most important pieces of business at the deadline.
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