The Tampa Bay Lightning and Yanni Gourde have agreed on a six-year, $30.996 million contract.

That translates to a $5,166,666 annual cap hit. Gourde is playing out the final season of his two-year, $2 million contract, so his new deal will begin in 2019-20. That pay raise is thanks to his breakout over the last season and change. He scored 25 goals and 64 points in 82 contests in 2017-18 and has four goals and 12 points in 12 games this season. Gourde also paced the team and ranked tied for third in the NHL with a plus-34 rating. While the sample size still isn’t big, if he continues to perform as he has been since the start of 2017-18, then the Lightning are getting a pretty good deal here. That said, they now have just under $49 million in cap space tied to eight forwards next season.

“We are very pleased to have Yanni as a part of the Lightning organization for the foreseeable future. Yanni personifies our team’s identity with his speed and relentlessness on the ice and his strong character off of it. He is proof of how far hard work and dedication can take you, and we look forward to him continuing his career in Tampa Bay.”

Gourde went undrafted and was acquired by the Lightning in March 2014.

Nothing like the ability to keep an elite core together. However, eventually, something will to give if going all-in does not work…

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