NHL Trade Action Heats Up: Lightning Acquire Gourde and Bjorkstrand, Panthers Get Vanecek
The Tampa Bay Lightning answered the cross-state-rival and defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers’ first couple of additions ahead of the NHL trade deadline with a big move of their own Wednesday.
Lightning Acquire Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand
The Lightning acquired forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from Seattle in a three-team trade that also involved Detroit, facilitating by retaining salary. They sent conditional 2026 and ’27 first-round picks, a second-rounder this year, and winger Mikey Eyssimont to the Kraken and a fifth-rounder this year to the Red Wings.
Tampa Bay also received a 2026 fifth-round pick and the rights to unsigned prospect Kyle Aucoin as part of another aggressive maneuver by two-time Cup-winning general manager Julien BriseBois, who is again bolstering his team to try to make a long playoff run.
Panthers Acquire Vitek Vanecek
The Panthers remained active before the 3 p.m. EST deadline Friday, acquiring goaltender Vitek Vanecek from the San Jose Sharks for 25-year-old forward Patrick Giles.
Vanecek gives Florida depth in net, along with Chris Driedger, behind two-time Vezina Trophy-winning starter Sergei Bobrovsky, who backstopped them to their first Cup championship in franchise history last year.
Reactions and Analysis
Yanni Gourde, who was part of those back-to-back title teams in 2020 and ’21, and adding Bjorkstrand gives coach Jon Cooper and the Lightning some valuable depth. Gourde just returned Tuesday night from sports hernia surgery to repair an injury that caused him to miss the past two months.
"We’re adding two players that are going to play significant minutes for us and two players that are highly competitive, have had success in the postseason in the past, have raised, have elevated their game when it matters most," BriseBois told reporters in Tampa. "They’re skilled. They can play 200-foot games. They can be used in all sorts of situations."
Conclusion
The NHL trade deadline has seen some exciting moves, with the Lightning and Panthers making significant additions to their rosters. The question is, what’s next? Will other teams make more moves to bolster their lineups for a deep playoff run? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the NHL is more exciting than ever.
FAQs
Q: What did the Lightning acquire in the trade?
A: The Lightning acquired forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from Seattle in a three-team trade that also involved Detroit.
Q: What did the Panthers acquire in the trade?
A: The Panthers acquired goaltender Vitek Vanecek from the San Jose Sharks for 25-year-old forward Patrick Giles.
Q: Why did the Sharks trade Vanecek?
A: The Sharks held Vanecek out of their game Tuesday night at Buffalo in preparation of trading the 29-year-old from Czechia.
Q: Who is Patrick Giles?
A: Giles is a 25-year-old forward who appeared in nine NHL games for the Panthers earlier this season without a point. He has mostly been with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Charlotte.
