Some team is going to get a good player in Gourde. Marner last 3 seasons 64 goals. Gourde 57 goals. Killorn 59 goals. Johnson 64 goals...

With Gourde it his point totals you should be worried about 64 to 48 to 30 those are moving in the wrong direction.

You might be right but they all have NTCs and none of them will waive for Detroit. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Where is the payment for taking on 15mm+ of contracts? No one is bailing TBL out for free.

The thing about Gourde though is how Tampa is utilizing him, can't just look at the points total. For the past two years he has been more of a checking 2-way defensive forward because frankly the Lightning did not have many players in that mold. This year alone he was on the 4th line all season with Paquette and Maroon because of his fore-checking and defense. When Stamkos went down he moved up to the 2nd/3rd lines and put up 11 points in 16 games before the pause. The Lightning now have him as their 3rd line C between Coleman and Goodrow for the playoffs and that line has been creating problems for the opposing teams. Look at Miller last year he was stuck in a similar spot in Tampa as Gourde and posted what 40 points, gets traded and is a PPG player in Vancouver's top 6. I honestly think the Lightning are fine keeping Gourde as they know if they put him back in the top six he will be good for 20 goals and 50+ points. If the Lightning do try and trade him there will be suitors and give him 18-20 a night in the top six he will produce points and which ever teams gets him their fans will like his style.