** Update: The Tampa Bay Lightning ultimately finalized a trade that included Yanni Gourde. Gourde went with Oliver Bjorkstrand and a 2026 5th-round pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for Tampa Bay’s 2026 first-round pick, their first-round pick in 2027, and a 2025 second-round pick (Toronto’s). They also sent Mikey Eyssimont to Seattle in the deal.
More than anything else, the Toronto Maple Leafs arguably need a third-line center at the deadline. The organization has been linked to several names, some of which are home run swings and others which are not. Lately, one name has popped up a few times among insiders who have a solid read on the deadline — Yanni Gourde. Unforuntately, the Leafs aren’t alone if they’re interested in Gourde’s services.
The veteran forward returned to the Seattle Kraken lineup on Tuesday night and said he felt like his old self last night in his first game since Jan. 2. Pierre LeBrun reports, “Lots of teams paying attention to the pending UFA forward ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.”
Why Gourde Fits for the Maple Leafs
A 33-year-old forward known for his grit and tenacity, he has played 581 career games plus 83 playoff games, winning two Stanley Cups. Just two years ago, he posted back-to-back 48-point seasons with Seattle.
The guys over at SDPN Sports said they like Gourde as a fit. They said Brayden Schenn gets them the most excited, but Gourde was seen as a solid Plan B. Steve Dangle said Gourde is “work, work, work.” Calling him an ideal fit for Craig Berube’s system, he admitted this isn’t the same player from four years ago, but if there was a shadow of that player left, the Leafs need to go get him.
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Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli writes that Gourde is an ideal fit as well. He explains:
“Let’s set the over/under for new players brought in by Brad Treliving at 2.5 for this deadline. They’d also like to add a winger with scoring touch and a defenseman to bolster the blueline. But it all starts with the center. That is the first priority and likely the first domino, sorting out the assets and cap space remaining after that. The Leafs have been focused on Brayden Schenn and to a lesser extent Scott Laughton, but Treliving is weighing cost with putting all the puzzle pieces together. Could Gourde and Brandon Tanev come over in the same package?”
Maple Leafs Will Have Competition on Gourde
Bruce Garrioch of Post Media wrote on Wednesday, “Postmedia has been told the Sens have held talks with the Seattle Kraken regarding C Yanni Gourde. You can add him to the list. Veteran who won two Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Fits the bill for what Ottawa wants.”
You can bet the New Jersey Devils and Tampa Bay Lightning are other teams looking for a center. Both will kick tires on the cost of acquiring the pending UFA. Elliotte Friedman tweeted, “As we approach waiver deadline (2ET), have heard Tampa Bay and Seattle working on a deal potentially involving Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde. Remember: Lightning have Cam Atkinson and newly-signed (to an NHL deal) Logan Brown on waivers today. May affect how things proceed.”
The issue for some teams, including the Leafs, will be the cap hit. Gourde is a $5.16 million cap hit, so salary retention is likely going to be part of the equation in any trade. What is Toronto willing to give for the player and the 50% that Seattle will have to hold back in a trade?
The Leafs might not want to give up a lot for Gourde, but it sounds like there’s interest. If the demand for his services gets increasingly high over the next 48 hours, it will be intriguing to see how long GM Brad Treliving stays involved in trade conversations, assuming he’s among the general managers who have already reached out.