Coveted trade candidate Yanni Gourde abruptly taken off the block after emergency surgery

The hope was short-lived. Seattle Kraken forward Yanni Gourde returned to practice in a non-contact jersey on Friday, only to have his team announced that he’d be out five to seven weeks after having sports hernia surgery.

This likely means the pending unrestricted free agent won’t play again before the March 7 trade deadline.

Gourde has been out since Jan. 2 after suffering a lower-body injury, but still remained a top coveted forward on the trade market ahead of the deadline. He was often linked to the Maple Leafs as an ideal trade candidate to add some forward depth in Toronto.

Before sustaining the injury, Gourde had scored six goals and 16 points in 35 games. It was believed that he could have fetched a late first-round pick for Seattle out there.

Gourde is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

The Kraken remain eight points out of a playoff spot and as the deadline gets closer. They have also considered re-signing Gourde, and might get a chance to now that he would be available for contenders this season heading into March 7.