And yes, Gourde, who has a modified no-trade, would like to join a contender. He won two Stanley Cups in Tampa as you’ll remember and I always saw him as a potential fit with Toronto by the way if they strike out on those bigger names that Dregs talked about at the top.

However, Tampa Bay acquired Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde from Seattle on Wednesday, which likely influenced the Lightning's decision to send Atkinson to the minors.

The Seattle Kraken got some good news before their Tuesday night assignment at home versus the visiting Minnesota Wild, with the team announcing the return of veteran forward Yanni Gourde to the lineup.

Although he is currently injured, Seattle Kraken forward Yanni Gourde should return before the trade deadline -- and he's a top trade chip.

Yanni Gourde has not played a game with the Seattle Kraken since Jan. 2. On Mar. 4, he laced up his skates to join the Kraken lineup again.

The Kraken's NHL trade deadline moves were likely just the beginning of a roster makeover. Here's a look at the players and contracts over the next few years.

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.

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.

Draft capital? The Kraken have it. Young talent? That's there, too. A title-contending NHL product? Boy...it's hard to envision at the moment.

What could be a busy week of NHL trade deadline activity for the Seattle Kraken started with a bang on Wednesday.

To complete the deal, Tampa Bay sends forward Michael Eyssimont, a first-round draft pick in 2026, a first-round draft pick in 2027 and Toronto's second-round draft pick in 2025