Yanni Gourde was told Wednesday at 9 a.m. Pacific time that he was getting traded, but the Seattle Kraken couldn’t tell him his destination right away. 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.

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois was active with deals again at the 2025 Trade Deadline. The Lightning’s forward core had some gaping holes, and the team has gotten away with cheap,

The Lighting paid a steep price — two first-round picks — for Gourde and Bjorkstrand but they're two players who should fit in perfectly.