When Yanni Gourde walked into Amalie Arena just 24 hours after being traded at the NHL Trade Deadline, he seemed to have picked up right where he left off. Gourde started his first media availability with the same openness he had a few years back, apologizing for how many times he said he was "excited to be there". 

In the move to acquire Gourde, the Lightning sent the Seattle Kraken two first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, as well as forward Mikey Eyssimont and Toronto’s second-round pick, which was acquired from Utah in last year’s trade of long time defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. Tampa Bay also received Seattle’s fifth-round pick in 2026.

At the time, Gourde was in his final year of the six-year contract he signed with Tampa Bay back in 2019 before heading to Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft. He returned to a system, coach and organization that he knows well. Gourde knew in the back of his mind that he and his family would return if ever given the opportunity. 

“You always let your mind wander if it could be possible,” Gourde said of his return to Tampa.

When Gourde left the Lightning in 2021, the leadership group was already well-established. In Seattle, he was tasked with being more of a vocal leader for the start of a brand new expansion team. Jon Cooper immediately noticed a difference this time around.

“He is extremely vocal on the bench all the time now and it's really refreshing,” said Cooper. “I don't remember him being like that, but it is very noticeable and very welcoming.”

On Monday, the Lightning announced the 33-year old signed a six-year contract with an average annual value of $2.33 million. This will likely keep him in Tampa for the remainder of his career, something Gourde and his family were hoping for.

"I love Tampa. I want to stay in Tampa for a long time so that was the biggest thing for me, getting some term and being able to stay and play in Tampa for the remaining years of my career," said Gourde. "I am so excited that we could make this happen. I am extremely excited to stay a Bolt."

In the regular season, Gourde had one goal and 13 assists in 21 games with the Lightning, but it wasn’t just about the numbers, his energy fired up the whole bench. It's a topic that comes up often in the Lightning room. 

“When you win two championships with a team, and there's still a lot of guys from that group, it makes this place very special. The hockey, the winning culture, it adds up. It makes you want to be here. It makes you want to play for that logo."

“We love Tampa. We love being in Florida. But the culture, the guys, the locker room, it’s all things that made me want to stay.”

With Gourde’s signing, the Lightning now only have three pending unrestricted free agents left: Luke Glendening, Cam Atkinson, and defenseman Nick Perbix.