The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde (75 percent retained), Kyle Aucoin, as well as a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a conditional 2026 first-round pick, conditional 2027 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick and Michael Eyssimont.
The Kraken retained 50 percent of Gourde’s contract, which expires this season, and the Detroit Red Wings also retained 25 percent of the entire contract in exchange for the better of the Lightning or Edmonton Oilers’ 2025 fourth-round pick.
Seattle gets first round pick in 26, first round pick in 27, Toronto's 2nd in '25 and Eyssimont in trade with Tampa.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 5, 2025
Bolts get Gourde and Bjokstrand plus 5th Rd pick in '26
Gourde has just recently returned to the Kraken lineup after a sports hernia surgery, keeping him out of the lineup since Jan. 2. He spent parts of six seasons with the Lightning, and won the Stanley Cup twice with the club. He was in integral part of the third line on those two Cup-winning teams, and was eventually claimed by the Kraken during their expansion draft.
Related: 2025 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker
Bjorkstrand is a consistent middle-six forward who will consistently eclipse the 20-goal mark. Last season, he set a new career-high in points with 59 in 82 games for the Kraken. His goal-scoring numbers have dropped slightly during his time in Seattle, as he never neared his career-high of 28 goals that he set as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2021-22 season.
Tampa Adds Great Forward Depth
Nicknamed “The Maestro” for his skill, Bjorkstrand is the type of player who will help improve the depth of the Lightning. He’s a major threat on the power play both when it comes to goal-scoring and finding ways to set up his teammates. Bjorkstrand is a one-time NHL All-Star, as the 29-year-old represented the Pacific Division in 2023-24.
Gourde, who the Lightning organization is very familiar with of course, is a good defensive player who should slot in on the third line yet again, and make for a very effective player for them. With just six goals and 17 points in 36 games this season, he isn’t at his peak offensively, but at 33 years old, there is no reason he can’t turn that around. Regardless of whether he does or not, that isn’t why he is being brought in. He is a hard-working center who is very responsible on both sides of the puck.
The Lightning placed forwards Cam Atkinson and Logan Brown on waivers on March 4, and they both cleared and were assigned to the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch, making room for two more forwards in the lineup. Gourde is in the final year of his deal, while Bjorkstrand has one more year at $5.4 million.
As the Lightning have shown plenty of times over the past decade, winning means a whole lot more to them than draft picks. While this is a steep price to pay, if it translates to success in the playoffs, that is all that matters.
Kraken Sell Off Forwards in Struggling Season
Gourde and Brandon Tanev have been two of the biggest names floating around the potential trade deadline moves, and while Bjorkstrand wasn’t talked about as much, it isn’t much of a shock to see him moved. The Kraken are struggling this season, and moving their touted assets for other pieces makes sense. While they have a strong prospect pool and collection of draft picks, the more the merrier.
Bringing in two first-round picks and a second-round pick is a home run for the Kraken. Eyssimont is a good depth piece for them, and is an upcoming free agent, and could be flipped.
