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The Tampa Bay Lightning knew the off-season could be painful. The first bit of pain hit Wednesday night when they lost forward Yanni Gourde in the draft for the expansion Seattle Kraken.
Gourde was vital to the Lightning’s run to a second consecutive Stanley Cup. He likely will miss the first two months of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
His short-handed goal in Game 7 of the semifinal series against the New York Islanders clinched the Bolts’ 1-0 victory.
Gourde’s departure erases his $5.166 million contract from the Lightning’s over-stressed salary cap. More moves are likely coming.
– Joe Henderson, The Tampa Bay 100
