What could be a busy NHL trade deadline period for the Seattle Kraken has begun with a bang.

Seattle Kraken rally falls short in 4-3 loss to Minnesota

The Kraken have sent center Yanni Gourde and right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a three-team trade, with the news coming Wednesday roughly 48 hours before Friday’s noon trade deadline.

Here are the full details of the trade.

Seattle Kraken get:

• Michael Eyssimont
• Tampa Bay’s 2026 first-round NHL Draft pick
• Tampa Bay’s 2027 first-round NHL Draft pick
• Toronto’s 2025 second-round NHL Draft pick

Tampa Bay Lightning get:

• Yanni Gourde
• Oliver Bjorkstrand
• Seattle’s 2026 fifth-round NHL Draft pick

The Detroit Red Wings are also involved in the deal, as Gourde was originally traded to Detroit at 50% salary retention. Toronto’s 2025 second-rounder was previously acquired by the Lightning.

There are conditions on the first-round picks heading to Seattle, which are top-10 protected, per a press release by the Kraken.

“If the 2026 or 2027 pick becomes a 2028 pick due to being in the top 10, Seattle receives an additional third-round pick in 2028,” reads the release. “If both picks slide to 2028 and 2029, respectively, Seattle receives a third-round pick in 2028 and a third-round pick in 2029.”

The Kraken, who are second-to-last in the Pacific Division and out of playoff race this season, now have five first-round picks and four second-round selections for the next three drafts.

The players involved

Gourde probably will get the most attention out of any player involved in the deal, as he won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Lightning, then became a fan favorite with Seattle after being one of the Kraken’s more notable choices in their 2021 expansion draft.

Bjorkstrand will likely have the biggest impact of any playing moving, however.

Gourde is 33, just returned from an abdominal injury Tuesday night, and is set to be a free agent after this season. Bjorkstrand is 29 and has one year remaining on a five-year, $27 million contract following this season.

A noteworthy offseason trade pickup in 2022 from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Bjorkstrand has 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 61 games this season. He had 59 points (20 goals, 39 assists) for Seattle in 82 games last season, and 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 2022-23. The 6-foot, 175-pounder was a first-time All-Star in 2023-24.

Oliver Bjorkstrand said no OT tonight! 🚫 pic.twitter.com/KehqJ9G1fI

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 10, 2023

Gourde, regularly referred to as “The Pepperpot” by Kraken play-by-play announcer John Forslund for his ability to stir things up and make things happen on the ice, has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 36 games this season. He had 48 points in each of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, and was an integral member of the Kraken team that reached the playoffs in its second NHL season, winning one postseason series and taking another to a full seven games.

The 5-9, 174-pound Gourde is making $5.167 million this season, the last of a six-year, $31 million contract.

2024 is off to a Gourde start!

Yanni has goals in three straight games! pic.twitter.com/OurpG6vWZG

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 10, 2024

“Oliver and Yanni were tremendous players for our organization who led by example on and off the ice, and I wish them all the best in their next chapter with the Lightning,” Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis said in the press release. “Decisions like these are never easy, but creating this valuable cap space and draft capital allows us to be active in improving our team moving forward.

“In addition, we welcome Michael Eyssimont to the group. He’s a versatile, hardworking forward who can join our lineup immediately.”

Eyssimont is a 28-year-old forward from Littleton, Colo., who is in his fourth NHL season. The Kraken will be the fourth team for the lefty-shooting 2016 fifth-round draft pick.

Michael Eyssimont doubles the lead ✌️ pic.twitter.com/mmYu6b9ZIP

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 16, 2024

This season, Eyssimont has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 10 games. Last season, he set career-high marks in games (81), points (25), goals (11), assists (14) and plus/minus (plus-7) with Tampa Bay. The 6-foot, 191-pounder is earning $800,000 this season and set to be a free agent this summer.

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