The Tampa Bay Lightning and Seattle Kraken linked up for a multi-player trade on Wednesday.
Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand are heading to Tampa while the Lightning are sending Michael Essymont along with first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 and a second-round pick in 2025 back to Seattle.
The Kraken will be retaining 50 percent of Gourde’s remaining salary and the Detroit Red Wings will also be getting a fourth-round pick for retaining another 50 percent. Both of Tampa’s first-round picks going to Seattle will be top-10 protected.
Gourde played for the Lightning when they won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and signed with the Kraken as a free agent when they entered the league ahead of the 2021-22 season. The 33-year-old pivot scored six goals and 17 points for Seattle over 36 games before the trade.
Bjorkstrand was drafted and developed by the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Kraken acquired him ahead of the 2022-23 season in exchange for two draft picks. He’s third on Seattle with 16 goals and fourth on the team with 37 points over 61 games.
The Lightning currently have a 36-21-4 record, good for third in the Atlantic Division behind the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Hurricanes gauging interest in Mikko Rantanen

It looks like Mikko Rantanen’s time in Carolina might be coming to an end. Multiple insiders have reported that the Hurricanes are gauging interest from around the league as the star winger doesn’t appear likely to sign a contract extension before the March 7 trade deadline.
The Canes acquired Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche in a three-team trade back in January with Martin Necas and Jack Drury going back the other way. After scoring 64 points over 49 games with the Avs, Rantanen only has six points through 12 games since the trade.
Carolina is in second place in the Metro Division with a 36-22-4 record, 10 points back of the Washington Capitals and four points up on the New Jersey Devils.

More news and notes from around the NHL…

  • According to Chris Johnston, the Florida Panthers have signed Jesse Puljujarvi to a one-year, two-way contract and the winger is on waivers as the team looks to assign him to the American Hockey League. The former Oiler had his contract terminated with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this season. He scored nine points over 26 games with the Penguins and three points in four games with their AHL team.
  • The Buffalo Sabres have signed Jordan Greenway to a two-year contract extension worth $4 million annually. The winger was set to become an unrestricted free agent in July. Now 28 years old, Greenway has three goals and eight points over 26 games for the Sabres this season.