Gourde rewarded with two-year deal from Lightning

Scott Thomas Photography

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Yanni Gourde to a two-year, one-way contract worth $1 million per season.

Gourde, 25, skated in 20 games with the Lightning during the 2016-17 season, posting six goals and eight points to go along with eight penalty minutes. The 5-foot-9, 172-pound forward scored his first career NHL goal on March 11 against the Florida Panthers.

Gourde has appeared in 22 career NHL games, all with the Bolts over the past two seasons, collecting six goals and nine points.

The Narcisse, Que., native also played in 56 regular-season games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, registering 22 goals and 48 points to go along with 54 penalty minutes. He also tied for first in the AHL with four shorthanded goals.

During Syracuse’s Calder Cup Playoff run, Gourde posted nine goals and 27 points in 22 games, ranking first in the AHL with 18 assists and finishing second in the league in points as the Crunch reached the Calder Cup Finals.

Gourde went undrafted and originally agreed to terms with the Lightning on March 9, 2014.