Lightning acquire Yanni Gourde, Oliver Bjorkstrand in trade with Kraken for Mikey Eyssimont, picks
Just like they were during their two Stanley Cup victories, the Tampa Bay Lightning are focusing on the now and not the future.
The Lightning have acquired forwards Yanni Gourde, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, Toronto’s second-rounder in 2025, and forward Mikey Eyssimont.
Both Detroit and Seattle are retaining 50 percent of Gourde’s $5,166,667 AAV. The Red Wings are getting a 2025 fourth-round pick for facilitating the trade. College senior Kyle Aucoin – the son of former NHLer Adrian Aucoin – is going from Detroit to Tampa Bay to complete the deal.
Tampa Bay’s two first-rounders are top 10 protected, but if one of the picks lands in the top 10, the Bolts will instead trade its 2028 first-rounder. If both are top 10 picks, it will be 2028 and 2029 first-rounders going the other way. If the pick slides at any point, the Lightning will trade an additonal third-rounder in 2028, and, if needed, 2029.
Trade details:
To #GoBolts:
Yanni Gourde
Oliver Bjorkstrand
2026 SEA 5th Round Pick
To #SeaKraken:
2026 TBL 1st Round Pick
2027 TBL 1st Round Pick
2025 TOR 2nd Round Pick
Mikey Eyssimont
Tampa Bay’s next first round pick is in 2028.
Gourde returns to the Bolts after spending the first six years of his NHL career there from 2016-21. He established himself as a hard-working, 200-foot player with consistent production. Gourde’s best season to date came in 2018-18 – his first full NHL season – when he had 25 goals and 64 points. Gourde was claimed by the Kraken in the expansion draft ahead of the team’s debut season in 2021-22. Gourde is currently out with an injury, but has 17 points in 36 games this year.
Bjorkstrand, 29, has spent the past three years with the Kraken. He registered a career-best 59 points in 82 games last year. The Danish forward has 16 goals and 37 points in 61 games this year, giving him a full-season pace of 49. Bjorkstrand was drafted 89th overall by the Kraken in 2013 and spent the first seven years of his NHL career there. He also had five points in three games at the Olympic qualification tournament to help Denmark advance to the main tournament for the first time in his career.
The #GoBolts added $5.9M Annual Cap Hit in trades.
After sending down Atkinson, they have $179K Projected Cap Space with 21 active players. This can fit $819K in additional annual cap hit at the deadline.https://t.co/BlChvcgdB7
Eyssimont, 28, has 10 points and 44 penalty minutes in 57 games this season. The depth forward has 21 goals and 50 points in 193 games over four seasons between Tampa Bay, San Jose and Winnipeg. Eyssimont is known for bringing energy and physicality, which he showed in spades with his 104 penalty minutes in 2023-24.
Tampa Bay won’t have a first-round pick until 2028, but still have one second-rounder for 2025. The Kraken, meanwhile, have each of their first two picks in the next three NHL drafts.
Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!