Yanni Gourde Bio
Yanni Gourde, born on December 15, 1991, in Saint-Narcisse, Quebec, Canada, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 173 pounds, Gourde is widely respected for his work ethic, two-way play, and knack for performing in high-pressure moments. Undrafted when he entered professional hockey, he built his career through perseverance in junior and minor-league systems before becoming a Stanley Cup champion.
Across his NHL tenure, Gourde has played for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Seattle Kraken, lifting the Stanley Cup twice with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021. He returned to the Lightning in 2025 and signed a long-term contract extension, cementing his place as a fan favorite in Tampa Bay.
Early Life and Background
Yanni Gourde was raised in Saint-Narcisse, a small community in Quebec, Canada, where hockey is woven into the fabric of daily life. His parents, after watching a movie that credited the Greek composer Yanni while his mother was pregnant, decided to name him after the artist. The unique first name has since become part of his identity, both on and off the ice.
As a child, Gourde competed in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments in 2003, 2004, and 2005 with the minor team Rive-Sud, gaining valuable early experience against top young talent. He later progressed to the Lévis Commandeurs and the Jonquière Élites of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League, where he sharpened his offensive instincts and hockey sense before moving to major-junior competition.
Path to Hockey
Gourde joined the Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2008, beginning a four-year journey that defined his development. In his first season he appeared in only four games, but by 2010-11 he was a full-time contributor, and in 2011-12 he exploded offensively with 37 goals and 87 assists for 124 points in 68 games.
That outstanding final junior season earned him the Jean Béliveau Trophy as the QMJHL’s top scorer, the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player, and a place on the QMJHL First All-Star Team. These honors helped him secure an amateur tryout with the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League (AHL) in April 2012.
Yanni Gourde Career
Early Career (2012-2014)
After signing a one-year contract with the Worcester Sharks, Gourde recorded eight goals in 54 AHL games during 2012-13 while also logging eight games with the ECHL’s San Francisco Bulls. The following season, he began with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings, posting 15 goals and 34 points in 30 games, before returning to Worcester in January 2014 on a 25-game professional tryout, where he produced a point-per-game pace.
On March 10, 2014, the Tampa Bay Lightning signed Gourde to a two-year entry-level contract. He finished the year with the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, recording two goals and six assists in 18 games. With the Crunch in 2014-15, he tallied 29 goals and 28 assists for 57 points, ranking second on the team behind Jonathan Marchessault, and was named AHL Player of the Month for November.
Tampa Bay Lightning Breakthrough (2015-2021)
Gourde made his NHL debut on December 15, 2015, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, notching his first NHL assist. He bounced between Syracuse and Tampa Bay for two seasons before establishing himself as a regular NHL contributor. On March 11, 2017, he scored his first NHL goal, a shorthanded tally against the Florida Panthers, becoming only the fourth Lightning player to open his career with a shorthanded goal.
During the 2017-18 season, Gourde produced a remarkable rookie campaign, earning NHL Rookie of the Month honors for February and finishing with 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points, setting franchise rookie records for most goals and most points in a season. He added two goals and five assists in 17 playoff games. The Lightning rewarded him with a six-year, $31 million contract extension in November 2018.
In the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, Gourde posted seven goals and seven assists across 25 games as Tampa Bay defeated the Dallas Stars to win the Stanley Cup. The following season, he helped the Lightning repeat as champions in 2021, beating the Montreal Canadiens, registering six goals and one assist in 23 playoff games and securing his second Stanley Cup ring.
Seattle Kraken Era (2021-2025)
On July 21, 2021, Gourde was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft. After recovering from shoulder surgery, he debuted on October 19, 2021, alongside Jordan Eberle and Jaden Schwartz, and scored his first Kraken goal on October 26 against the Montreal Canadiens. He finished his first Seattle season with 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points in 74 games and was named an alternate captain.
Gourde matched his 48-point total in 2022-23, highlighted by an overtime goal against the Dallas Stars in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. His production dipped to 33 points in 2023-24, and a January 2025 sports-hernia surgery limited him to roughly half a season. In 35 games before the injury, he had six goals and 10 assists.
Return to Tampa Bay (2025-Present)
On March 5, 2025, Tampa Bay reacquired Gourde from Seattle in a three-team trade that also sent Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Lightning and Mikey Eyssimont to the Kraken. In 21 games to close the regular season, Gourde contributed one goal and 13 assists, quickly rediscovering his playmaking touch. On June 2, 2025, the Lightning signed him to a six-year contract worth $13,980,000, signaling long-term faith in his two-way game and leadership.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although hockey uses different terminology than motorsport, Gourde’s approach has clear parallels to a crafty, hardworking competitor. He excels at winning board battles, generating offense from the cycle, killing penalties, and producing in playoff hockey. His undersized frame is offset by strong skating, sharp hockey sense, and an aggressive forecheck, while his shot-pass-option instincts help linemates thrive.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Gourde’s defining moments are his first NHL goal as a shorthanded tally, his 2017-18 franchise rookie records for goals (25) and points (64), his back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, and his overtime winner for Seattle against Dallas in the 2023 playoffs. His 2025 homecoming trade and six-year extension further underscore his value.
Yanni Gourde Career Wins
Yanni Gourde’s win résumé is anchored by two Stanley Cup championships with the Tampa Bay Lightning, earned in 2020 and 2021. He has also collected multiple individual awards, including the Jean Béliveau Trophy as QMJHL top scorer and the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player in 2011-12.
NHL and Playoff Highlights
Gourde’s two Stanley Cup titles remain the headline achievements of his professional career, complemented by strong playoff production including 13 goals and 8 assists across the 2020 and 2021 postseasons. His 2017-18 rookie records of 25 goals and 64 points established him as a cornerstone forward for the Lightning.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NHL, Gourde earned QMJHL First All-Star Team honors in 2011-12 and was named AHL Player of the Month in November 2014. He also posted a 25-point effort in 25 AHL games with Worcester in 2013-14, demonstrating the offensive consistency that would translate to NHL success.
Yanni Gourde Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Yanni Gourde was raised in Saint-Narcisse, Quebec, by supportive parents whose love of music and the arts inspired his distinctive first name. While not from a multi-generational hockey dynasty, Gourde’s family encouraged his early athletic development through community programs in Quebec.
Personal Life
Gourde is married to his wife, Marie-Andrée, with whom he welcomed their first child, daughter Emma Kate Gourde, on May 1, 2018. Her arrival came between Games 2 and 3 of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, a memorable chapter for the young family.
2025 Season Performance
Yanni Gourde’s 2025 storyline began with a difficult stretch in Seattle, where a January sports-hernia surgery limited him to 35 games and 16 points before the injury. His pending return to health coincided with Tampa Bay’s growing interest in reacquiring a familiar two-way forward ahead of a playoff push.
Following the March 5, 2025 trade back to Tampa Bay, Gourde slotted into a middle-six role and produced 14 points in 21 regular-season games, leaning heavily on his playmaking to ease his re-entry. The Lightning’s June 2, 2025 six-year extension reflected both his on-ice value and his leadership in the locker room.
Looking ahead, Gourde is expected to anchor a checking line and contribute on the penalty kill, while also providing secondary scoring depth for Tampa Bay. With his health restored and his role secured, the 2025-26 campaign offers another opportunity to chase a third Stanley Cup.
