Seattle Kraken centerman Yanni Gourde has been suspended for a charging penalty against Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm. The play in question occurred in the final few minutes of the Thursday night matchup, with the NHL Department of Player Safety saying that Gourde unnecessarily elevated himself into Ekholm’s head on the hit. The league also cited Gourde’s one previous career suspension – a two-game punishment for a hit to the head of Jordan Staal in the 2018-19 season.
Gourde has appeared in all 45 of Seattle’s games this season, boasting seven goals and 19 points. He’s also added 48 penalty minutes, a mark that’s tied with Vince Dunn for team lead. Gourde is in his third season with the Kraken, serving as the selection from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. He’s served in a prominent role for the Kraken, averaging over 17 minutes of ice time in each season since. That includes the 17:48 he’s averaging this year, operating as a middle-six centerman and go-to penalty killer.
Gourde went unselected in the NHL Draft, instead beginning his pro career with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks at the end of the 2011-12 season. He scored three points in four games in his first taste of pros but struggled to maintain that production in his official rookie year – scoring just 14 points in 54 games during the 2012-13 season. He found his way back on draft in the following year, though, and was able to work his way into more prominent roles each season before eventually making his NHL debut in 2015-16 and playing his first full pro season in 2017-18. Gourde made a splash when he finally joined the Tampa lineup, netting an impressive 25 goals and 64 points in 82 games. That remains a career-high in goals and points, though Gourde has nonetheless remained consistent, scoring 48 points in three separate seasons since, including last year.
It wasn’t that bad, In fact Ekholm put on quite the act to get the officials attention.
Cmon Gourde literally flew in, jumped to hit him with his body in the head…that warrants a suspension. And he laughs about it after. Love how McDavid was in his face all game. Wonder how that convo went…cocky small guy syndrome chirps and McDavid answers how many points did you get last year? Oh that’s cute.
What can I say? I love Gourde’s rambunctious personality on the ice, I love those types, So entertaining.
I like Mcdavid but he definitely appeared to have his knickers in a knot last night. Maybe another try at the spinorama will straighten em out.
Lol. That’s a good one!
Gourde’s a disturber for sure, but what he did last night was absolutely brain dead. He took a five-minute major with 3.5 minutes remaining in a 3-2 game. If I were Hakstol, I’d be livid.
McDavid! Give me a break, Ty Kartye was in his face all game. McDavid is as much of a whiner as Sydney Crosby.
I said exactly that earlier today. He took his team out of the game. Undisciplined for sure!
Lol yeah I guess when you don’t have the two best players of this millennium on your team they are whiners! I’ll take a Crosby or McDavid all day. 160 points yeah whether he’s a whiner or not I’ll take him! Gotta love the jealousy!
And of course Kartye is in his face that’s his job he’s at best middle six. Be lucky if he touches 60 points in a season. It’s literally every teams game plan to get in McDavid’s face it’s be stupid not to. But he still makes them all look foolish. Silly argument man.
This. I love Yanni, but that stupid penalty effectively iced the game and will cost the Kraken even more of their depth for a game or two.
For sure.
Not jealous, Kraken will be fine, our future is in our pipeline. Of course I’d take either one, will maybe not Crosby at the end of his career, but they are still whiners. BTW, as Edmonton has shown for many years it takes good 2nd, 3rd and 4th liners, plus a defense to win cups.
Wasn’t that bad? Gourde didn’t stop skating until he leapt to launch himself at Ekholm. That was a recipe for a suspension.
I’m a Gourde guy, He never disappoints!
I love Lindros, Maxim LaPierre, Jarkko Ruutu, Ryan Kesler, Doug Gilmour, Tyson Nash, Brandon Tanev, Link Gaetz was a scream! Just crazy!
Bobrovsky and Fleury just got pulled at the same time. Never seen that before.
No-talent Lockwood got pounded by Duhaime after he ran Fleury. As it should be.
Duhaime also a no talent.
I also love all the Tkachuk’s!
That was some soccer worthy acting by Ekholm. Looked like he barely grazed him. Two games is ridiculous.
True!
Feels like you guys have never played hockey. He shouldn’t be at breakneck speed heading at a players numbers. He took a run at, arguably, their best defenseman. The NHL doesn’t have room for this so they overstep their bounds. 2 games, is a game too much, but they want to send a message to the NHL: we’re going to protect our star players from harm. It happens in the NFL with QBs and the refs calls. It happens in the NBA with favoritism towards big market teams (i.e Lakers) and also in the MLB where big market teams can defer more money than a small market team makes in a season. If your team makes the product better or pulls in more revenue. There will always be special treatment.
Like they protected Matty Beniers from the 2 concussions he’s gotten from cheap shots?
You act like Crosby didn’t take shit in his first season… Beniers isn’t a marquee name or a generational talent. You still have to put in the work. It would be like comparing Jamarcus Russel to Peyton Manning just because they’re first rounders. This is also why Scottie Barnes doesn’t get fouls called his way and Lebron does. He needs to put in the work.
So, because Matty isn’t a generational talent, it’s ok to cheap shot him, but hands off McDavid?
That’s not the point I was making. NHL is going to protect McDavid and his Oilers. It’s about what the team provides as an asset to the league, not what one individual does or has done to them on the ice. Of course exceptions are made when you’re the face of the league. McDavid is valuable to the growth and product of the league. What does Beniers offer? I’m not condoning what was done to Beniers, and I truly believe he has a bright future. However, he has to put in the work to gain respect from his peers, and build his value to the league as a whole.
Ok, peace, but I’ve played hockey, and followed it closely for 65 years. Yanni was over the line, no question. I’d just like to see the league apply their punishment equally. Whether you are a superstar or a 4th liner, the rules on this should be applied the same.
Again, special treatment is nothing new in this new age of sports. Players are treated as assets and the sport is a product. They will protect their investments as best they can. I like the way Gourde plays, he just should’ve set the tone a better way. I played hockey in southern Ontario in the 90s, and they were really pushing “don’t aim for the numbers” agenda, oh and recycling too. I’m certain we grew up in different eras. On another note, the Damar Hamlin injury is the first time I’ve seen a game being cancelled for a defensive player injury, so perhaps we’re slowly getting there. Appreciate your feedback brother!