As the dust settles on another NHL season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are facing an early offseason after their elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs. For the players and their families, this time marks a shift from the intensity of competition to much-needed rest and rejuvenation. Amid the team’s reflections on their performance, families are embracing the opportunity to reconnect and recharge away from the rink.
Yanni Gourde’s Wife Marie-Andrée Embraces Offseason With Family Retreat
Following the Lightning’s elimination from the playoffs, Yanni Gourde’s wife, Marie-Andrée Gourde, shared an update from their family trip to the Cayman Islands.
Her three-word Instagram caption — “On island time 🧡” — accompanied a series of scenic photos, showing the couple and their close-knit group of family and friends unwinding by the beach and aboard a yacht.
The vacation comes as the Lightning were bounced from the first round for the third consecutive season, losing to the Florida Panthers in five games. While the team processes another early exit, the Gourde family is clearly taking time to recharge.
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Marie-Andrée has been by Yanni’s side for more than a decade. Originally from Sainte-Marie, Quebec, in Canada, she met the hockey star in 2009 while he played junior hockey for Victoriaville. The couple married in 2015 and now have two daughters: Emma, born in 2018, and their youngest, Demi Davis, born in September 2022.
Meanwhile, Marie-Andrée has always acknowledged the unique challenges that come with being the spouse of a professional athlete.
In a 2021 interview, she opened up about the difficulty of staying connected during the NHL’s bubble season, when strict protocols limited family access during the playoffs. Despite the distance, she stayed engaged by supporting other players’ families through the trying times.
During quarantine, she and Yanni found joy in simple things like DIY projects, rollerblading, and making pizza. The offseason, for her, is a cherished opportunity to reconnect as a family, and this island escape seems to be just that.
Gourde’s Future With the Lightning Remains Uncertain
While Marie-Andrée is enjoying island life, Yanni’s NHL future is still up in the air. After another early playoff exit, the Lightning have big offseason decisions looming. Gourde is set to become an unrestricted free agent and might need to take a pay cut from his previous $5.17 million cap hit to stay with Tampa.
General manager Julien BriseBois has indicated interest in bringing back Gourde, along with fellow UFAs Luke Glendening, Cam Atkinson, and Nick Perbix. But with cap space tight and younger players waiting, not every veteran will be back. Gourde’s leadership and effort are appreciated, but the team has to balance that with long-term plans.
This year’s playoff loss brought issues to light — stars like Nikita Kucherov underwhelmed, the power play sputtered, and the team failed to take advantage of home ice. Even goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, usually a rock in the postseason, struggled.
Still, Gourde remains a respected leader in the locker room and a fan favorite. Whether he returns to Tampa or finds a new team, his next chapter will be closely followed.
For now, though, the focus is on family and recharging. The next move will come soon enough.
