Stanley Cup champions Lightning lose key player to Kraken

It was expected: the Tampa Bay Lightning knew as soon as it hoisted the Cup earlier this month that the roster of the team would never be the same. Especially with the flattened salary cap and the Seattle Kraken expansion draft around the corner. 

Now, the expansion draft takes place tonight and it looks like Kraken general manager Ron Francis has zeroed in on which player from the championship group he wants to bring on board to Seattle. 

According to insider Frank Seravalli, the Kraken will go after forward Yanni Gourde in order to build around him for their inaugural roster. Seravalli believes the Kraken has been focusing quite a bit on Gourde, who won back to back championships with the Bolts. And it makes sense: Gourde is a two-way center who just plays such a high energetic game, plays in all situations and on the penalty kill. 

As he was left unprotected by the Lightning : you have to go after him. He was left unprotected along with Alex Barre-Boulet, Blake Coleman, Ross Colton, Tyler Johnson, Mathieu Joseph, Boris Katchouk, Alex Killorn, Pat Maroon, Boo Nieves, Ondrej Palat, Taylor Raddysh, Gemel Smith, Otto Somppi, Mitchell Stephens, Daniel Walcott, Luke Witkowski, up front. As well as defensemen Andreas Borgman, Fredrik Claesson, Sean Day, Cal Foote, Brian Lashoff, Dominik Masin, Jan Rutta, David Savard, Luke Schenn, Ben Thomas and goalies Christopher Gibson, Spencer Martin and Curtis McElhinney.

Seravalli even believes that the Kraken could focus in on other players from the Tampa gang, seeing that GM Julie BriseBois will need to make difficult choices to respect the salary cap for the 2021-22 season. 

“Not entirely clear how tonight will work. Teams wondering if he’s the only Tampa player heading to Seattle? Could change. But sense is Gourde will be a Kraken before night is done.”

As it is now past 10 am, the Kraken’s picks are due, and will be officially revealed tonight at 8pm ET.

We cannot wait for this!