Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke emphasized in his ‘state of the franchise’ address in February that team ownership is intent on winning sooner rather than later, implying original plans to build a competitive team through the draft no longer suit their ideal timeline for success.
With the Kraken’s first deal of the 2025 trade deadline finalized, the organization indeed seems to be headed in a different direction to improve quickly after what will be two consecutive seasons missing the playoffs– namely using draft capital to acquire talent.
Wednesday afternoon, Tampa Bay acquired Oliver Bjorkstrand, Yanni Gourde, and a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for top-10 protected first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, a second-round pick in this year’s draft, and forward Michael Eyssimont.
Seattle didn’t give up much for two first-round picks.
Gourde’s value to the Kraken largely resided in his grit and energy, his chemistry with frequent linemates in Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, and his leadership abilities– the veteran served as an alternate captain for the entirety of his tenure in Seattle. Although sports hernia surgery limited him to 17 points in 36 games this season, his rate of scoring has been on the decline anyways: 0.649 points-per-game in 2021-22, 0.593 in 2022-23, and 0.413 in 2023-24.
Proof of postseason production is, of course, always precious, and Gourde leaves the Kraken leading the franchise in all-time playoff scoring with 13 points. But eleven points in the standings from tying the Calgary Flames for the second wild card spot, Seattle is without need for such a skill set from a pending UFA.
As the Kraken’s second-most productive scorer since his acquisition during the 2022 offseason with 141 points in 224 games, losing Bjorkstrand is the biggest blow in this deal to Seattle’s offensive makeup. He ranked fourth on the roster in total scoring this season (37 points), and the 59 points he accumulated in 82 games last season set a new career-high for the winger.
Depth isn’t as much of a concern at present with Seattle acquiring Kaapo Kakko in December originally to supplement the right wing in the aftermath of Jordan Eberle’s injury. Seattle still has three consistent skaters on that flank along with Andre Burakovsky. Losing a fourth-line center in Gourde isn’t particularly devastating, either. Temporary replacements can be found in Coachella Valley– Ben Meyers and Mitchell Stephens both played in that spot earlier this season– and Gourde was not a source of reliable production as it is.
Regardless, Seattle is now in possession of five first-round picks and 21 total picks over the next three drafts. Should they seek to supplement the right wing or the forward group as a whole– which could dismantle further as the noon PT trade deadline nears– they’re able to do so.
“Oliver and Yanni were tremendous players for our organization who led by example on and off the ice,” general manager Ron Francis said via press release. “Decisions like these are never easy, but creating this valuable cap space and draft capital allows us to be active in improving our team moving forward.”