Is Yanni Gourde’s time in Seattle coming to an end?

Yanni Gourde has been one of the Seattle Kraken’s most important acquisitions since the team’s expansion draft. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, he brought a winning pedigree and invaluable leadership to a fledgling roster hungry to establish itself. Over the past few seasons, Gourde has often been the sparkplug Seattle needed—logging critical minutes on both ends of the ice and setting an example for younger players.

Early this season, rumors swirled about Gourde potentially being traded before the NHL deadline. His solid production and championship experience made him a prime target for contenders seeking a versatile, two-way forward. Then came the setback: a lower-body injury on January 2, later diagnosed as a sports hernia. With surgery required, the timetable for Gourde’s return was pegged at five to seven weeks. Most fans assumed that would be the end of his trade value, as few teams want to gamble on an injured skater.

A surprising return to the ice

Now, in a surprising development, Gourde has been spotted at practice without a non-contact jersey. While he’s not likely to suit up for the Kraken’s next game, this progress hints that he could be healthy enough to play right before the trade deadline. That situation injects a fresh layer of uncertainty about his future. Contending teams in need of an energy boost might be tempted to roll the dice if Gourde is even close to 100%.

Looking beyond the deadline

Even if Seattle moves him for a mid-to-late draft pick (or a prospect), it doesn’t necessarily mean Gourde’s time in the Emerald City is over. He’s in the final year of his contract, so he will become a free agent this offseason. Hockey history is filled with players who were traded at the deadline, only to return to their previous team a few months later. If the Kraken decide to embrace a youth movement, bringing Gourde back on a friendlier contract could be a perfect fit. He’d bolster the bottom six and mentor emerging talent, allowing the front office to maintain continuity while developing future stars.

Most fans would love to see Gourde remain a fixture of the Seattle hockey community, whether that’s for the remainder of this season or after a short-term stint elsewhere. The real question is whether his brief injury absence—and the race to get healthy by the trade deadline—will shift the plans of both the Kraken and potential suitors. As the clock ticks closer, all eyes are on Yanni Gourde, his steady return from injury, and the looming decision that could shape Seattle’s roster for seasons to come.