Yanni Gourde Bio
Yanni Gourde (born December 15, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. Gourde rose through Quebec junior hockey, earned major-junior scoring and MVP honours, worked his way through the AHL and ECHL, and established himself as an NHL playmaker and two-time Stanley Cup champion.
Early Life and Background
Yanni Gourde was born in Saint-Narcisse, Quebec, Canada, on December 15, 1991. He grew up playing organized hockey in Quebec and appeared in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor team from Rive-Sud.
Gourde continued his youth development with the Lévis Commandeurs and the Jonquière Élites of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League before stepping up to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He joined the Victoriaville Tigres in 2008 and spent four seasons in the QMJHL, where his production steadily increased and he became one of the league’s top offensive players.
Path to Hockey
At Victoriaville, Gourde progressed from a depth player into a dominant scorer. In the 2011–12 QMJHL season he registered 37 goals and 87 assists for 124 points in 68 games, winning the Jean Béliveau Trophy as the QMJHL’s top scorer and the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player, and earning a place on the league’s First All-Star Team.
Undrafted by the NHL, Gourde signed an amateur tryout with the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League in April 2012 and then a one-year contract with the Sharks organization. He spent time in the AHL and ECHL while refining his game and established himself as a high-effort, playmaking forward who could contribute in multiple roles.
Yanni Gourde Career
Early Career (2008–2014)
Gourde’s first significant exposure came in major junior with the Victoriaville Tigres beginning in 2008. His 2011–12 QMJHL campaign was a breakout season, capped by 124 points that drew league-wide recognition and awards. His junior performance led to a professional path despite not being selected in the NHL Entry Draft.
After junior, Gourde signed with the Worcester Sharks for the end of the 2011–12 season and then joined their organization for 2012–13. He split time between the AHL and the ECHL, appearing for the San Francisco Bulls and later posting strong numbers with the Kalamazoo Wings in 2013–14, where he recorded 15 goals and 34 points in 30 games before earning another professional tryout with Worcester.
Tampa Bay Lightning Breakthrough (2014–2021)
On March 10, 2014, Gourde signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and was assigned to the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning’s AHL affiliate. He adapted quickly to the AHL and was named AHL Player of the Month for November during the 2014–15 season after recording nine goals and nine assists in 18 games. He finished the season with 29 goals and 28 assists in 76 games for Syracuse.
Gourde made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning in December 2015, registering his first NHL point with an assist in a 5–4 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored his first NHL goal on March 11, 2017, shorthanded against the Florida Panthers. Gourde established himself as an NHL regular in 2017–18, earning NHL Rookie of the Month honours in February and finishing his rookie season with franchise rookie records for goals and points by a Tampa Bay first-year player, totaling 25 goals and 64 points.
The Lightning signed Gourde to a six-year extension on November 2, 2018, reflecting his value as a two-way forward and line driver. He contributed across regular seasons and deep playoff runs, and was part of the Tampa Bay Lightning teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
Seattle Kraken Era (2021–2025)
On July 21, 2021, Yanni Gourde was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft. He began his Kraken tenure recovering from shoulder surgery and was named an alternate captain while sidelined. When he debuted for Seattle in October 2021, he immediately joined the team’s top line and scored his first goal with the Kraken on October 26, contributing to the franchise’s first home win.
Gourde produced 21 goals and 27 assists in 74 games for Seattle in the 2021–22 season and maintained a 48-point pace in 2022–23. He scored a notable overtime goal in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs in a second-round game against the Dallas Stars. In the 2023–24 season he recorded 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 80 games. During the 2024–25 season, Gourde underwent sports hernia surgery announced on January 31, 2025, which sidelined him for several weeks; he returned later in the campaign before being traded.
Return to Tampa Bay (2025–Present)
On March 5, 2025, Gourde was traded back to the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of a three-team deal. He finished the season with the Lightning, recording one goal and 13 assists in 21 games to close the year. On June 2, 2025, the Lightning signed Gourde to a six-year contract with the terms reported in team announcements.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 5 ft 9 in and 173 lb, Gourde plays with a low center of gravity, quick feet and relentless work rate. He is valued for his playmaking ability, forechecking, faceoff support and penalty-killing contributions. Gourde blends scoring instincts with defensive responsibility and frequently serves as a versatile middle-six forward and special-teams performer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Major milestones in Gourde’s career include winning the Jean Béliveau Trophy and Michel Brière Memorial Trophy in the QMJHL in 2011–12, reaching the AHL Calder Cup Final with the Syracuse Crunch, making his NHL debut in 2015, scoring a first NHL goal shorthanded in 2017, and winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He was also selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft and later traded back to Tampa Bay in 2025.
Yanni Gourde Career Wins
Gourde’s career highlights span junior scoring titles, AHL recognition and NHL championships. He has combined individual awards at the QMJHL level with team success at the NHL level, including two Stanley Cup championships with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
Tampa Bay Lightning Highlights
With the Tampa Bay Lightning, Gourde made his NHL debut in 2015, set rookie scoring marks in 2017–18 with 25 goals and 64 points, and played a role in the Lightning’s consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021. He signed a long-term extension with Tampa Bay in 2018 and returned to the organization in 2025 via trade and subsequent contract.
Seattle Kraken Highlights
Selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft, Gourde served as an alternate captain while recovering from shoulder surgery, posted a 21-goal season in 2021–22, and scored an overtime playoff goal in the 2022 postseason. He produced consistent two-way contributions over four seasons with the Kraken before a midseason trade returned him to Tampa Bay.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Before the NHL, Gourde dominated in the QMJHL with 124 points in 2011–12, earning top-scorer and MVP awards. He also earned AHL Player of the Month honours in November 2014 and played a leading role for the Syracuse Crunch during deep Calder Cup playoff runs.
Yanni Gourde Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Gourde was named after the Greek composer Yanni, a detail he has discussed in public interviews. He is married to Marie-Andrée, and the couple welcomed their daughter Emma Kate Gourde on May 1, 2018.
Personal Life
Gourde keeps his personal life relatively private while maintaining a public presence as a family man. His daughter was born during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, an event noted in media accounts at the time.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season saw Gourde face injury and a midseason trade that returned him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He missed several weeks for a sports hernia procedure announced in late January 2025, returned to play later in the season, and finished the year with Tampa Bay after the March 5, 2025 trade, contributing one goal and 13 assists in 21 games for the Lightning.
Following the season, Gourde signed a long-term contract with Tampa Bay in June 2025. The move projects him as a veteran middle-six presence who will be expected to provide secondary scoring, special-teams value and experienced leadership as the Lightning pursue further playoff success.