Having helped the Tampa Bay Lightning secure a Stanley Cup, Yanni Gourde expressed a strong desire to remain with the team. His recent six-year contract extension now makes it possible for him to potentially conclude his NHL career in Tampa.
On Monday, Gourde finalized a six-year contract valued at slightly less than $14 million. This agreement extends his tenure through the 2030-31 season, carrying an annual salary cap hit of $2.33 million.
Speaking to reporters via video call, Gourde stated, “My priority was to stay in Tampa for the long term. Securing a lengthy contract that allows me to potentially finish my career here was the most important aspect for me. I`m thrilled we were able to achieve this.”
Gourde was a key contributor to the Lightning`s consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021. Following the second championship, the Seattle Kraken selected him in the expansion draft, and he spent over three seasons playing for them.
In March, prior to the trade deadline, the Lightning brought the 33-year-old center back to the team. General Manager Julien BriseBois had indicated confidence in signing Gourde long-term after trading multiple conditional first-round picks and other assets to Seattle for both Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Gourde commented, “I was hopeful this was a possibility, but you can never be certain until negotiations begin. Tampa was always my top choice while I was in Seattle, whether it was through another trade or signing as a free agent. When the March trade brought me back, I was incredibly excited.”
This past regular season, Gourde missed several weeks recovering from a sports hernia and subsequent surgery. He also sustained a broken finger during Tampa Bay`s first-round playoff elimination by the defending champion Florida. Despite this early exit, he remains confident that the team`s opportunity to win the Stanley Cup is still very much alive.
Gourde concluded, “While the first-round exit was certainly disappointing, I truly believe in the quality of this group. The main focus is always finding ways to win, perform well, and wear the Tampa Bay Lightning jersey with pride. Winning a championship is, of course, the ultimate aspiration.”
