Trade Between The Montreal Canadiens And Kraken Involving Yanni Gourde Has Just Been Suggested by Lavoie
We're still far from the NHL trade deadline, but general managers are already eyeing their potential targets.
One of the most-watched teams recently is the Seattle Kraken. Besides forward Brandon Tanev, who could attract interest from several teams, Yanni Gourde's name is frequently mentioned.
Furthermore, Ron Francis has reportedly already received calls about both players, according to Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff.
At the moment, Francis is not inclined to trade the Quebec native. The situation is a bit different with Tanev. The season is young, and things can change, especially if the Kraken drifts further from playoff contention.
Gourde, 32, is in the final season of a six-year, $31M contract ($5.166M per year). This season, he has recorded just three assists in 14 games. He finished the 2023-24 campaign with 33 points, including 11 goals, in 80 games.
Yanni Gourde on His Way Out of Seattle and Linked to the Montreal Canadiens?
In recent days, Renaud Lavoie stated that there have been no discussions between the Kraken and Gourde's camp about a contract extension. According to him, if no deal is reached by the deadline, Gourde could leave the Kraken.
Lavoie sees the forward potentially joining the Habs by the trade deadline, especially with the possible departures of several veterans next March. Interesting.
JDM - Can We Dream of Yanni Gourde in Montreal?
«You're probably going to lose Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia. Marc Bergevin's old guard will be leaving the organization, and you need to replace them. The Canadiens will need to find a way to attract players with character, players who have already won the Stanley Cup.»
- Renaud Lavoie
It would be interesting to see if Kent Hughes was one of the GMs who called Ron Francis about Gourde.
Let's be honest: the Canadiens could welcome Gourde and give him quality minutes. Chandler Stephenson's acquisition has hurt Gourde, reducing his playing time. The Quebecer is currently leading the Kraken's fourth line.
Aren't the Canadiens looking for a second-line center?
With Gourde as a bridge for the rest of the season and, hopefully, one or two seasons beyond, the Habs would have an option while waiting for Michael Hage in the coming years. It would be surprising if he did worse than Christian Dvorak or even Kirby Dach at center
If Gourde comes at a high price, the Canadiens can afford it, especially if veterans leave. Kent Hughes might even acquire him at a reasonable price by taking on his full salary.
This will definitely be a storyline to follow in the coming weeks!
