Avalanche Re-Signs Gabriel Bourque

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has re-signed forward Gabriel Bourque to a one-year contract for the 2018-19 season.
Bourque, 27, appeared in 58 games for Colorado this past season, including each of the last 46 contests to close out the campaign. He registered 11 points (5g, 6a), his most since 2014-15 with the Nashville Predators, and added two points (2g, 0a) in six postseason outings. The Rimouski, Quebec, native was fourth on the team with 123 hits during the regular season and averaged 1:54 of time-on-ice in shorthanded situations as part of Colorado's fourth-ranked penalty kill.

"Gabriel brings leadership and a veteran presence to our team," said Avalanche Executive Vice President & General Manager Joe Sakic. "He plays hard minutes, kills penalties and is reliable at both ends of the ice."
Bourque was signed by the Avalanche as a free agent on Oct. 10, 2016 and has totaled 89 points (36g, 53a) in 306 career NHL games with Nashville and Colorado. The 5-foot-10, 206-pound left wing spent most of the 2016-17 season with the American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage, where he ranked third on the team with 33 points and tied for second with 23 assists.

A fifth-round selection (132nd overall) of the Predators in the 2009 NHL Draft, Bourque finished his major junior career with 141 points (48g, 93a) in 180 games with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Moncton Wildcats, serving as captain for Baie-Comeau for two seasons. In 2010, he helped Moncton win the President's Trophy as QMJHL champions and earned the Guy Lafleur Trophy as playoff MVP.
Internationally, Bourque suited up for Team Canada at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship, notching nine points (3g, 6a) in six contests to help Canada capture the silver medal.
Bourque was also active in the Denver community this season. He skated with 60 boys and girls from the Denver Children's Home as part of the Avalanche's Break the Ice program and helped run a fitness and wellness clinic for students at Patterson International School with the Avs' TeamFit program.