The Tampa Bay Lightning have multiple pending free agents this off-season, but forward Yanni Gourde is undoubtedly the most notable. The veteran forward was brought back by the Lightning before the 2025 NHL trade deadline from the Seattle Kraken, and he immediately fit right in again.
Following being acquired by the Lightning, Gourde posted 14 points, 50 hits, and a plus-4 rating in 21 regular-season contests. Overall, he gave the Bolts the secondary offensive production and immense grit that they missed when he was no longer on the team. He was also a good veteran mentor for Tampa Bay to have around for their younger players.
With all of this, the Lightning should seriously work hard to re-sign Gourde, rather than letting him leave through free agency. Losing Gourde would undoubtedly be a tough blow for the Lightning, and it would be hard to find a replacement who provides all he does. This is especially so when noting that he has a ton of playoff experience, as his two Stanley Cups effectively demonstrate.
Nevertheless, re-signing Gourde should be one of the Lightning's top priorities this off-season. It will be interesting to see if they can successfully bring him back from here.
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