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NHL Notebook: Kraken trade Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Lightning
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Mar 5, 2025, 19:00 ESTUpdated: Mar 5, 2025, 20:56 EST
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Confusing trades are the best.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Seattle Kraken traded Yanni Gourde (at 50% retention), Oliver Bjorkstrand, and the Kraken’s 2026 fifth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Michael Eyssimont, two top-10 protected picks in 2026 and 2027 and a 2025 second-round pick.
If either/both of the first-round picks slide to the next year, the Lightning will trade a third. Moreover, the Red Wings retained a portion of Gourde’s salary (another 25%), receiving a 2025 fourth-round pick, the better pick between the Lightning and Oilers pick at the coming draft. Confusing, right?
Is it worth it for the Lightning? Well, Yanni Gourde is currently on the Injured Reserve but he has six goals and 17 points in 36 games this season and 11 goals and 48 points in 81 games the season before. He won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2019-20 and 2020-21 and had hit 48 points on three occasions in his career, as well as 64 points once.
Bjorkstrand has 16 goals and 37 points in 61 games this season and has reached the 20-goal plateau in five of his 10 seasons. He scored 20 goals in 2022-23 and 2023-24 and a career-high 28 goals in 2021-22 with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Panthers acquire Vítek Vaněček

Another trade occurred on Wednesday, as the San Jose Sharks traded Vítek Vaněček to the Florida Panthers for American Hockey League player Patrick Giles.
Vaněček hasn’t had a great season with the Sharks, as the netminder has an .882 save percentage and 3.88 goals against average in 18 games. However, the Czechian has posted good numbers in the past as he had a .911 save percentage and a 2.45 goals against average with the New Jersey Devils in 2022-23. With a better defence in front of him with the Panthers, you expect his numbers to improve.
As for Giles, he was an undrafted player who spent four seasons with Boston College from 2018-19 until 2021-22. He signed with the Florida Panthers after the 2021-22 season, picking up an assist in 10 games with the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers. He played nine games with the team this season and has five goals and seven points in games with the Checkers, with his career-high of 13 goals and 23 points in 66 games coming last season.

Jack Hughes out for the season after shoulder surgery

The New Jersey Devils announced Wednesday afternoon that Jack Hughes will miss the rest of the season after receiving shoulder surgery.
The injury occurred on Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights, as he collided with Jack Eichel and crashed into the boards. He didn’t return to the game. It’s massive loss for the Devils as Hughes is their best player, scoring 27 goals and 70 points in 62 games. He’ll be placed on Long-Term Injured-Reserve, giving the Devils significant cap room ahead of Friday’s deadline.
Through 63 games, the Devils have a 33-24-6 record with 72 points, thirdi n the Metropolitan Division. They have a four-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets and a six-point lead over the New York Rangers.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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