The Lightning make a splash yet again, acquiring Yanni Gourde & Oliver Bjorkstrand from Seattle for two first round picks (2026, 2027) and Mikey Eyssimont. Tampa also gets a 2026 fifth round pick in the pre-deadline blockbuster.
Tampa Bay's salvo came hours after Florida remained active before the 3 p.m. EST deadline Friday, acquiring goaltender Vitek Vanecek from the San Jose Sharks for 25-year-old forward Patrick Giles.
When Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand found out on Wednesday morning that they were being traded from the Seattle Kraken, the forwards weren’t yet sure of the location for their next hockey home. Their hope,
Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde were traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning by the Seattle Kraken as part of a three-team trade also involving the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. Gourde was traded to the Red Wings for unsigned defenseman Kyle Aucoin.
The Tampa Bay Lightning organization believes that adding two elite forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand will be the push they need to make a deep playoff run.