Although the NHL trade deadline is still some time away, general managers are already considering potential trades. One team attracting a lot of attention is the Seattle Kraken, particularly regarding forward Brandon Tanev, who could be of interest to multiple teams, and Yanni Gourde, whose name is frequently mentioned.
Reports from Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff suggest that Ron Francis has already fielded calls about both players. However, he seems reluctant to trade Gourde, who is a Quebec native. The situation with Tanev is more flexible, as the season is still early, and the Kraken’s playoff chances could influence decisions if they fall further behind.
Gourde, 32, is in the last year of his six-year, $31 million contract, averaging $5.166 million annually. So far this season, he has registered only three assists in 14 games and finished the previous season with 33 points, including 11 goals, in 80 games.
Recently, Renaud Lavoie mentioned that there have been no talks between the Kraken and Gourde’s camp regarding a contract extension. He speculates that if an agreement isn’t reached by the trade deadline, Gourde might leave Seattle. Lavoie sees a potential fit with the Montreal Canadiens, especially with some veterans possibly leaving the team next March.
Lavoie expressed his desire to see Gourde in Montreal, noting that the Canadiens might soon lose Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia, and they will need to find players who bring character and have championship experience.
It would be interesting to know if Kent Hughes, the Canadiens’ GM, was one of those who contacted Ron Francis about Gourde. The Canadiens could benefit from his skills and give him significant playing time, especially since Chandler Stephenson’s addition has reduced Gourde’s role on the Kraken’s fourth line.
The Canadiens are in need of a second-line center, and bringing Gourde in could serve as a solid interim solution while waiting for prospects like Michael Hage to develop. It would be unlikely for Gourde to perform worse than Dvorak or even Kirby Dach in the center role.
If Gourde demands a high price, the Canadiens would likely be able to accommodate it, especially with potential veteran departures. Kent Hughes might also be able to negotiate a reasonable deal by assuming Gourde’s full salary.
