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With the 2025 Trade Deadline approaching, the Tampa Bay Lightning are shaping up to be buyers again. They have been one of the busiest teams at the deadline over the past few seasons, trading for Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow during their Stanley Cup runs. However, the Lightning recently moved away from adding rentals and acquired long-term pieces like Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul.
This season, the Lightning could be interested in a reunion with center Yanni Gourde. Elliotte Friedman claimed the Lightning would take a look at the Seattle Kraken veteran if he became available on his 32 Thoughts Podcast, despite surgery on a sports hernia back in late January. Would he be a good fit and at what cost?
Disclaimer: The players featured in these articles aren’t always linked to the Lightning but have been made available in some capacity this season. These articles consider whether Tampa Bay should target them and at what cost.
Gourde’s Background
Gourde didn’t step into the NHL after a year of minor league hockey. Rather, he was an undrafted free agent signing by the Lightning many years ago. He worked his way up from the ECHL and the Syracuse Crunch in the American Hockey League to secure a full-time roster spot with the Lightning in 2017-18, scoring 25 goals and registering 64 points in 82 games.
After five incredible seasons and two Stanley Cups with the Lightning, Gourde was selected to be a building block for the NHL’s newest franchise, the Seattle Kraken, at the 2021 Expansion Draft. Gourde has served as an alternate captain for the Kraken since their inaugural season, and even helped the team clinch their first playoff birth in 2022-23. At 33 years old, Gourde is in his sixth and final year of a deal he signed with the Lightning back in 2018.
Gourde Scouting Report
Gourde is a Swiss Army Knife forward who specializes in his defensive play at this stage in his career. He excels in finishing ability and can put pucks in the back of the net on his high-danger scoring opportunities. He likes to go to the front of the net for screens and deflections and is a hard-nosed player despite his smaller frame.
Similar to Kyle Palmieri, another target we looked at, Gourde is a veteran player on an expiring contract. He’s still an effective player late in his career just like Palmieri. With that, why would the Lightning be interested in his services?
Gourde’s Strengths
Gourde’s defensive game makes him intriguing for Tampa Bay. He’s familiar with head coach Jon Cooper and knows some of the players on the roster from the Stanley Cup teams. Gourde ranks first on the Kraken in expected goals against per 60 (xGA/60) and high-danger shot attempts against (HDCA/60) via Natural Stat Trick.
Furthermore, despite Seattle not being the most puck-dominant team, Gourde excels off the cycle and forecheck by consistently feeding passes to his defenders up at the blue line. He’s the only Kraken player above a 50% expected goal share this season (xGF%) and is above the league-average forward in offensive zone time at even strength via NHL Edge.
Gourde’s Weaknesses
While Gourde is an excellent defensive forward, his passing and speed have fallen off a cliff late in his career. He ranks in the 52nd percentile of speed burst over 20 miles per hour and the 24th percentile of high danger assists per 60 via All Three Zones. Lastly, he is a veteran on an expiring deal, meaning he’d likely be a pure rental for the Lightning.
What it Would (Likely) Take to Acquire Gourde
General manager Julien BriseBois has $5.22 million in cap space to work with at the trade deadline. Lars Eller has similar value and was re-acquired by the Washington Capitals from the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this season. The trade is a perfect comparison because, like Gourde, Eller reunites with a team he spent most of his career with. At 35 years old, Eller is a reliable two-way center for a contender’s bottom six, similar to Gourde.
Tampa Bay acquires: Yanni Gourde (F) – 50% Retained
Seattle acquires: 2026 third-round pick, 2025 fifth-round pick
How Both Sides Benefit From the Trade
Lightning
The Lightning acquire a versatile two-way center to bolster their bottom-six forward group. Moreover, Gourde can assist with some secondary scoring and bury the chances he gets. Plus, there is familiarity and mutual interest between the two parties. The Lightning doesn’t have the most assets to work with, but they finally have some cap space to make this deal work at 50% retention.
Kraken
The Kraken likely aren’t making the playoffs for the second-straight season and are set to lose Gourde to free agency this summer. Seattle can retain money on his deal for the rest of the season and recoup some assets for the future. Gourde was a serviceable guy for them upon his arrival to Seattle, but age continues to creep up on him.
Tampa Bay Lightning: In or Out on Gourde?
Without a doubt, Gourde would be a solid addition to the depth up front for the Lightning. The team has been on a hot streak lately, and Tampa Bay looks like a potential contender out of the Eastern Conference. However, with his current injury and age, Gourde presents some risk as a pure rental acquisition. Nevertheless, adding a familiar face would help take the pressure off some of the top stars and potentially replicate that dominant third line from their Stanley Cup runs. Despite being a pure rental, the cost is minimal and that makes a potential deal worth the risk for the Lightning. However, this shouldn’t be their only move at the deadline if they plan to elevate to a true contender.
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TODAY'S BEST
Canadiens Open Up About Brawl With Capitals
The Montreal Canadiens may have lost to the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they made sure to set off some fireworks while they could. In Game 3, as the Canadiens and Capitals were heading to the locker room for the second intermission, a brawl broke out between the two teams. Scrums broke out between the players, with the peak coming from Canadiens forward Josh Anderson and Capitals forward Tom Wilson mixing it up on the bench. Anderson and Wilson started their fight on the ice, but an open door to the Capitals bench forced their momentum off the playing surface. The brawl between the Canadiens and Capitals ended up being one of the biggest highlights of the playoffs, but no one really knew why it started. A couple of Canadiens players cleared the air recently on what sparked the melee. According to Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj, backup goalie Jakub Dobes was chirping and trash talking everyone on the Canadiens all game from his bench. “He’s looking over, he’s chirping every single guy that comes off the ice,” Xhekaj said. “He’s yelling at them, chirping them. Next thing you know, our goalie gets hurt and Doby has to go in. Uh oh.” After about 11 minutes of the second period, Canadiens starting goalie Sam Montembeault suffered an injury, forcing Dobes to between the pipes for his first career playoff appearance. “That is true,” Dobes said. “They definitely were not nice to me the first five minutes.” Xhekaj went on to add more detail about the brawl starting, noting that the Capitals were waiting on the ice to have a few word with Dobes. “The periods over, so the other team has to skate across the ice and Doby has to skate through all of them,” Xhekaj said. “Nobody left, they just waited for Doby because they wanted to have a word with him. Then I got in there and it was madness.” Game 3 ended up being the only win the Canadiens had in the series, picking up a 6-3 victory. Dobes was credited with the win, making seven saves on eight shots in his relief effort.
New York Yankees Trade Slew of Prospects in Pair of Impactful Deadline Moves
The New York Yankees shook up the trade deadline in a big way on Thursday, acquiring a pair of leverage relievers as they attempt to get back to the World Series this season. Fortifying the back-end of the bullpen, New York brought in former All-Star closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates and hard-throwing Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies. In exchange, they gave up a slew of prospects, including Roc Biggio and Ben Shields (Bird), and Rafael Flores, Edgleen Perez and Brian Sanchez (Bednar). In total, the Yankees traded away two prospects from their MLB Pipeline Top 10: Flores was eighth and Biggio was 10th. Perez was ranked 14th, while Shields was 28th. Sanchez was unranked. With regards to Flores, he is a catcher and a first baseman who had been predicted to make his debut in 2026. The Yankees clearly found him expendable given the presence of Ben Rice and Austin Wells. Biggio, an infielder, is blocked currently by Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base and Ryan McMahon at third. New York entered play on Thursday at 59-49 and in the first position in the American League wild card chase. They advanced to the World Series last season, but have slumped this season, losing holding hold in the American League East. The Yankees play the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium before heading to Miami for a weekend series with the suddenly surging Marlins. They'll then play the also surging Texas Rangers next week. Texas is currently in the third wild card spot in the American League, tied with the Seattle Mariners. Both teams are 57-52. Related MLB Stories UPDATE on SHOEHI: Shohei Ohtani left the game as a pitcher on Wednesday night. Here's the latest. CLICK HERE: DEATH OF A LEGEND: Ryne Sandberg, the Baseball Hall of Famer, passed away at the age of 65 this week. CLICK HERE: SKENES IS UNREAL! Paul Skenes is making rarely before seen history for the Pirates, doing it on both a season-long and career-long level. CLICK HERE:
Final Fantasy Meets Dragon Quest In Legendary Crossover
What’s more iconic than Cloud wielding a Buster Sword? How about Cloud rocking Erdrick’s Armor and wrecking Dragon Quest monsters all in one event? That’s right, Square Enix has decided to gift us mere mortals a crossover between Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis and Dragon Quest Tact. This limited event runs from July 30 to August 6, and if you’re not hyped yet, you might want to check your gaming pulse. But what does this actually mean for you? Well, buckle up, because this crossover is more than just a gimmick. It’s packed with so much fan service that even Sephiroth might need a break from brooding to join in on the fun. The Chaos, The Loot, The Slimeocalypse First off, Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is about to host King Slime and his slimy gang because, apparently, even pixels deserve to meet their heroes. Players get to battle these absurdly charming enemies and earn event-exclusive gear worthy of both franchises. We’re talking Cloud stepping into Erdrick’s Armor and wielding what is unquestionably one of the most epic swords in gaming. Aerith, not to be outdone, is gracefully handed the Supreme Sage Garb because, you know, killing enemies and looking fabulous is her thing. And don’t even get me started on Sephiroth taking a cosplay detour as Psaro. Imagine one iconic villain dressing up as another. It’s meta. It’s chaotic. It’s everything we didn’t know we needed. Players, Prepare for Nostalgia Overload The crossover also throws in daily free draws, a boatload of loot, and arguably, a reason to ditch any other mobile games cluttering up your screen time. There’s something inherently rewarding about collecting crossover goodies that scream, “I was there when Square Enix decided Cloud needed an RPG glow-up with Dragon Quest-style flair.” Some highlights from the event include: Daily Free Ten Pulls (Spoiler Alert: Prepare for gacha heartbreak… and joy). Crossover Missions loaded with rewards like Red XIII’s Great Sabrecat Collar (think of it as drip for your furry companion). Event Bonuses that range from refined Mythril piles to rare crossover wallpapers that scream, “Yeah, I’m that gamer.” And, oh yeah, login bonuses stacked higher than a stack of pancakes at a chocobo-catered brunch. Why This Crossover Actually Slaps If you’re rolling your eyes at the idea of yet another crossover event, it’s time for a quick reality check. This isn’t just a lazy cash-grab with recycled assets and buzzwords. It’s a love letter to fans of both games, blending two legendary worlds into an experience that’s as ridiculous as it is satisfying. Think of it like a bizarre but beautiful RPG fever dream where Dragon Quest monsters challenge Final Fantasy heroes, and the only loser is anyone who missed out. Plus, when was the last time you saw King Slime try to flex on Aerith? Exactly. Is this Peak Mobile Gaming? Now, will this event cure all your gaming ailments? Probably not. Will it load up your plate with so much nostalgia and fan-service-packed chaos that even your backlog of unplayed games might get jealous? Absolutely. Square Enix’s crossover brilliance usually lies in its ability to unite wildly different fandoms and generate hype that turns even the most casual gamer into a midnight-grinding, loot-obsessed fan. And if that’s not peak mobile gaming, what even is? Final Thoughts Events like these are why gaming history has a vault packed with “Hype Levels Overload” moments. Whether you’re here for the loot, the cross-franchise cosplays, or just some good old-fashioned Dragon Quest monster smashing with your favorite FF cast, this event delivers on every front. Hot tip? Set your alarms. Grab your popcorn. And pray that RNG is in your favor for those 10 pulls. Trust me, you’ll want bragging rights when someone asks why Cloud suddenly looks like he walked out of a Dragon Quest cutscene. Remember, this party only lasts for a week. Don’t sleep on it, because King Slime certainly won’t. Be sure to visit Total Apex Gaming for more game-related news and content.
Latest reporting paints unflattering picture of Shedeur Sanders amid QB competition
The extraordinarily rare four-man quarterback competition unfolding in Cleveland is ongoing, but adjustments are being made. Kenny Pickett is out with a hamstring injury, giving Joe Flacco a wider runway to reacquire the job. While Pickett recovers, Kevin Stefanski said Flacco will take the bulk of the first-team reps, via ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi. Flacco did not take as many offseason reps, but because of his 2023 Browns showing, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer indicates he received what amounted to a first-round bye in this battle ahead of training camp. Flacco proved he remained a capable starter during a serviceable but unremarkable Colts stint, but his elevating a battered Browns offense to a playoff berth in 2023 carries considerable weight. The Browns are obviously evaluating how a 40-year-old Flacco differs from his 38-year-old version, but with Pickett down, the 18th-year veteran has a chance to impress and start a season opener for the first time since filling in for Zach Wilson in 2022. This would be Flacco’s 14th time earning a Week 1 NFL start. As Flacco enjoys a strong opportunity to grab the reins, Shedeur Sanders does not look to have a chance at the Week 1 gig. Sanders entered the Browns’ offseason program “far behind” Flacco, Pickett and third-rounder Dillon Gabriel, Breer adds, and is trying to catch up. Sanders received extensive criticism for his strange approach to the pre-draft process, but beyond proving difficult in interviews with teams (as a recruiting-type mentality is believed to have taken place on the QB’s part), Sanders drew attention for being behind from a "football-knowhow standpoint," according to Breer. The two-year Colorado starter being as far behind as he was during predraft meetings surprised some, Breer adds, and he fell into fourth place during the Browns’ offseason workouts due in part to lagging on the football IQ front. To open camp, the first-team reps primarily went to Flacco and Pickett, with Gabriel taking the leftover work. Operating as an inverse option to Sanders thus far, Gabriel has impressed with his football IQ while presenting a less-than-ideal frame (at 5-foot-10) and skillset. The Browns plan to stop sending out two offensive units simultaneously, a tactic deployed due to the unique four-man QB battle, according to Stefanski. This transition will lead to fewer reps, further increasing Sanders’ degree of difficulty as a developmental option. As it stands, Sanders faces a “Super Bowl LI”-like uphill climb to win the job, Breer concludes, adding he has gained ground since workouts started. Although Sanders was a much-rumored first-round candidate, falling to fifth for myriad reasons made it unrealistic he would win the Browns’ Week 1 job. Fifth-round rookies are almost never in QB competitions in the first place, making this training camp more of a developmental stage for the second-generation pro. At the preseason’s conclusion, the Browns will need to decide if they want to carry four quarterbacks — a genuine possibility — on their 53-man roster. Gabriel looks close to a roster lock here, with Sanders the wild card. Pickett’s injury would open a door for the Browns regarding an IR move, as a way to retain both rookies, but it would seem unlikely the team would proceed that way with a player firmly in the mix for the Week 1 job. (The team is not planning to trade one of its rookie arms.) Sanders would need to pass through waivers to reach Cleveland’s practice squad, further complicating the situation. Jimmy Haslam also fielded a question about Arch Manning this week. While the owner cannot realistically comment on the Browns’ path to the soon-to-be Texas starter, he did voice a belief the QB will stay in school for the 2026 season (kicking the can to the 2027 draft), via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. Haslam mentioned his relationship with the Manning family in offering that prediction. Even if Manning is unlikely to declare for the 2026 draft, next year is projected to include a much deeper class compared to 2025. The Browns having two first-round picks seemingly came in preparation for that. For now, Gabriel and Sanders continue to make their cases about future duty while the Flacco-Pickett veteran matchup represents the far more likely decider for Week 1 this season.
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