Seattle Kraken's Yanni Gourde Undergoes Surgery, Out 5-7 Weeks

The veteran center's absence complicates trade deadline plans as the team struggles to stay in playoff contention.

Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde underwent sports hernia surgery on Friday and is expected to miss 5-7 weeks, sidelining him past the March 7 NHL trade deadline.
The 33-year-old has been on injured reserve since January 2, with the surgery addressing a lingering lower-body injury.
Gourde, a pending free agent, was considered a top trade asset for the Kraken, who are eight points out of the playoff race and were planning to act as sellers at the deadline.
Despite declining speed and production this season, Gourde's championship experience and defensive reliability made him an attractive option for playoff-bound teams.
In 35 games this season, Gourde has recorded six goals and 10 assists while averaging over 15 minutes of ice time per game.