A return worth waiting for as Yanni Gourde is back with the Lightning

TAMPA, Fla. — Yanni Gourde was told Wednesday at 9 a.m. Pacific time that he was getting traded, but the Seattle Kraken couldn’t tell him his destination right away.

Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand waited for three hours — until two players cleared waivers for the Lightning — before they could be informed they were heading to Tampa Bay as the main pieces of a three-team trade that also included the Red Wings.

“I was kind of freaking out,” Gourde said. “It was one of the longest three hours, for sure. You don’t know. Are you packing? What are you packing for? I was just pacing around the house. A lot of pacing and just walking around.”

In the Lightning, Gourde, 33, returns to the organization that gave the 5-foot-9 forward the opportunity to play in the NHL when no one else would. With a constant motor, blue-collar work ethic and an ability to get under opponents’ skin, he became a big piece of back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2020 and ‘21. He was the anchor of the team’s energy line, along with Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, that other clubs have tried to duplicate for playoff success.

“Let’s take the fact that Yanni Gourde played here previously out of it. We would still have gone after Yanni Gourde,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “He just has a ton of attributes that scream he’s a Bolt. And, obviously, having the history with him and having the success we had, he just brings an element that his physical stature doesn’t matter. It’s the size of his heart. And I think that’s why he was such a fan favorite here.”

Gourde never wanted to leave Tampa Bay, and his departure wasn’t up to him, as he was selected by the Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft.

He returns to a team that has reestablished itself as a Cup contender. The Lightning entered Thursday’s game against the Sabres three points out of first place in the Atlantic Division after winning nine of their previous 10 games.

“The atmosphere is probably going to be a lot of fun hitting the ice again here as a Bolt, but at the end of the day I’m here to play hockey,” Gourde said. “I’m here to make this team better, and I want to bring my energy, my pace, and again, try to help this team win some hockey games and, yeah, focus on that mostly.”

Gourde started Thursday against the Sabres and heard loud cheers during pregame introductions. He received a standing ovation throughout the seating bowl when a welcome video was played during the first television timeout.

Gourde realistically didn’t see himself returning to Tampa Bay. But with him due to become an unrestricted free agent next season and Seattle in sell mode, the Kraken agreed to retain 50% of his remaining contract, with Detroit taking on 25%.

“You always let your mind wonder if it could be possible,” Gourde said. “But yeah, this is awesome and I’m so excited to be back. My time in Seattle was great, it was a lot of fun, but I’m super excited to join this team and win some games. … It’s very familiar. It feels surreal. A lot of excitement. And can’t wait to get going (Thursday)."

Gourde, has six goals and 17 points in just 36 games this season, limited by a sports hernia and the ensuing surgery that took him off the ice for two months. He said his goal was to play before the trade deadline, and he returned Tuesday, contributing an assist in a 4-3 loss to the Wild.

“It was definitely tough to go through that and battle through that injury for a while there, and then decided to take a rest and ended up needing surgery,” Gourde said. “So it was really tough, but I worked extremely hard to get back as quickly as I could. ... But it was a tough season. The first part, for sure.”

There are only seven players on this season’s roster who were on the 2021 Cup team, but Gourde said the Lightning’s system isn’t much different than the one he played in previously. His infectious smile and personality already were readily apparent in the Lightning dressing room Thursday morning.

“I was just talking about it,” said defenseman Erik Cernak. “He’s never changed. He’s the same guy as he left. He came back, he’s the same, he’s always laughing. He’s bringing the energy off the ice, on the ice. So, it’s amazing to have him. He has a great family, too. So it’s nice to have them back.”

Gourde and Bjorkstrand boarded a private jet Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific time for a cross-country flight to Tampa so they could arrive in time for Thursday’s morning skate.

Cooper put the two together on the third line, with Gourde at center, but that could change over time. Though Gourde has a familiarity with the Lightning, the focus is on getting two new players integrated into new surroundings in the middle of a playoff race on a club that’s already playing extremely well.

“Our team’s different. He’s older now, and you’re not going to sit here and replicate Gourde-Coleman-Goodrow, because two of those guys aren’t here,” Cooper said. So we’ll see how this goes. There’s often times when players come in and they fit seamlessly, and other times there’s guys that take a little while.”

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