Yanni Gourde Returns to Lightning Lineup After Hip Surgery

Lightning center Yanni Gourde has been activated off injured reserve ahead of tonight’s 6 p.m. matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. He’s expected to make his 2026-27 season debut. 

Gourde started the season on IR after undergoing hip surgery in June. His initial recovery timeline had him returning in December, but the 34-year-old said he started feeling closer to a return over the past couple of weeks.

“Rehab is a lot of work,” said Gourde. “It was a lot of work in the summer right after surgery and it’s a lot of work once you get back to skating, but it's part of the game. It's good to get in full contact and good reps with the team."

Although he hasn’t been in the lineup, Gourde has remained around the team throughout the start of the season. 

“It’s been good to be around the boys, see them perform, do what they do and bring energy when they need it. They've been great," he said.

Now that Gourde is back, the question becomes where he fits into the lineup.

Last season, he centered the “Backpack Line” alongside Zemgus Girgensons and Pontus Holmberg. However, Ilya Mikheyev has been a natural fit with the group this season, while Girgensons has shifted over to center.

The Lightning have also primarily used an 11-forward, seven-defenseman setup this season, although they went with 12 and six in Saturday’s win over Minnesota. 

That lineup worked well, with the Lightning still able to spread out the minutes among their defensemen. With Gourde back in the mix, it will be interesting to see how head coach Jon Cooper works him into the lineup.