5th year center Yanni Gourde(65) was a late cut from Tampa Bay Lightning training camp to be reassigned to affiliate Syracuse Crunch.
He signed a one-year contract extension early into his first restricted free agency after posting a career 30 assists last season in the AHL.
In his only recall of 2015/2016, he posted his first assist before getting injured.
It took a couple of months for him to score a summons for the current calendar but was quickly sent back after a pair of appearances with no points.
No worries, as he returned to the farm squad, continued to work hard and excel in minor league scoring netting 22 goals and 24 assists through 55 games with a +10 rating, good enough for 3rd on the team.
With a rash of injuries to the parent club, he was once again brought up in an attempt to bolster their playoff berth chances.
In his 2nd game he was given markedly increased ice time, which resulted in his 2nd assist and a win.
He would next pot his first NHL goal in another victory and for at least now the 25-year old is making a nice argument to stick around for awhile as the roster returns to healthy status.
What happens next for the upcoming unrestricted free agent, who signed an ECHL deal to start 2013/2014, will be interesting to watch.
Yanni Gourde (65)
Tampa Bay Lightning 4th year left wing Yanni Gourde(65) put up crazy good numbers last season with affiliate Syracuse Crunch.
He had a career and team best 29 goals in a complete schedule of 76 AHL games with 28 assists for 57 points and unloaded 163 shots on net. He was also a +13 plus/minus.
Not exactly a late cut from training camp for his second year in the organization, he took his reassignment in stride already connecting for 5 tallies and 8 helpers in 24 contests.
The small pivots hard work got rewarded two months into the new campaign earning him a first recall to the parent club.
In his debut he notched his first NHL point, an assist.
Over two games he skated roughly 7 minutes each appearance with 2 hits, 2 penalty minutes, one break up and was a +1 rating.
Unfortunately he sustained an injury somewhere along the line and was recently sent back down to make room for healthy bodies.
The soon-to-be 25 year old may just be getting started in the highest level of hockey and should continue to show scoring strength.
Yanni Gourde(37) Syracuse Crunch
Undrafted 3rd year left wing Yanni Gourde(37) is poised to set new career highs in all scoring categories this season.
He’s already eclipsed his goals total from last year with 15 in 41 AHL games with Syracuse Crunch, while holding a +14 rating.
It’s very likely that the small 5’9″ 168 lbs. forward will also reach new bests for points and assists in his first full year as a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect.
He was signed to a two-year two-way entry level contract after putting up point-per-game numbers on a pto with Worcester Sharks after being loaned from Kalamazoo Wings.
He had 15 goals and 19 assists in 30 ECHL at the time of his recall.
Looking for an NHL deal, it didn’t materialize with their parent club San Jose Sharks, so he smartly went elsewhere and found it.
Yanni Gourde(18) Kalamazoo Wings
Small 2nd year left wing Yanni Gourde(18) somewhat surprisingly signs for one-year with ECHL Kalamazoo Wings after spending his entire rookie season under an AHL contract with Worcester Sharks.
In 54 games the 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward scored 8 goals with 6 assists adding to his first pro goal and a pair of helpers he posted at the end of the previous year signed with the team to an ato.
He did get reassigned for a brief spell with affiliate San Francisco Bulls and lit the lamp for 4 goals and 6 assists in 8 games.
The young 21-year old will probably continue on a tear through the lower league and it would not be surprising to see him get called up somewhere for the long-term.
In four years of junior hockey with Victoriaville Tigres he was a 1.11 point per game guy in 199 games and won the most valuable player and scoring titles in his final campaign.
See related: 4/17-12
Yanni Gourde(18) Worcester Sharks
Undrafted 20-year old left wing Yanni Gourde(18) knows how to get pucks in the net as he totaled 124 (37 goals, 87 assists) in 68 games in his third season of juniors, tops by far in the QMJHL.
In the AHL 2011/2012 regular season closing game he put up a goal and a pair of assists, all of his points in 4 games signed to an ato with Worcester Sharks.
At 5’9″ 170 lbs. he’s yet another small-sized forward that has been making space in the pro game and he sure knows how to create it for his scoring chances.
He’ll likely finish his final season in juniors in 2012/2013 but it will be interesting to see where he’ll ultimately land.