Yanni Gourde has cashed in on an impressive 20-game cameo with Tampa Bay this season.
Gourde signed a two-year, $2 million extension on Monday, the Bolts announced. The deal came after the 25-year-old forward scored six goals and eight points in 20 games, while averaging 15:22 TOI per night.
Undrafted out of the Quebec League, Gourde has been a terrific AHL player since catching on with the Tampa Bay organization a few years ago.
He was instrumental in Syracuse’s run to the Calder Cup final this year -- scoring 27 points in 22 games -- and, given his new deal is of the one-way variety, seems primed to spend next year with the Lightning.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to sign that kind of a deal knowing where I’ve come from,” Gourde said, per NHL.com. “It’s the organization that trusted me very early in my career, and I thank them for that.”