Selected by Nashville in the fifth round (132nd overall) of the 2009 Entry Draft, Gabriel Bourque had spent his entire career with the Predators, recording 78 points (31 goals, 47 assists) in 242 career NHL games. He also dressed in 15 career playoff contests for the Preds, notching five points (three goals, two assists).
A native of Rimouski, Quebec, Bourque appeared in 22 games for the Predators during the 2015-16 season, tallying four points (one goal, three assists). He missed 48 contests due to an upper-body injury suffered on Nov. 27, 2015 at Philadelphia. Bourque finished second on the Predators with 11 goals during the shortened 2012-13 campaign and went on to record a career-best 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 74 games with Nashville the following year in 2013-14. He made his NHL debut in 2011-12, tallying 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 43 games. Prior to turning pro, the 5-foot-10, 206-pound right wing helped the Moncton Wildcats capture the 2010 President's Cup as Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions.
Now entering his 12th NHL season, Rene Bourque has tallied 298 points (151 goals, 147 assists) in 660 career NHL games with Chicago, Calgary, Montreal, Anaheim and Columbus. He has also picked up 15 points (11 goals, four assists) in 27 playoff contests. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound right wing dressed in 49 games for the Blue Jackets last season, registering eight points (three goals, five assists).
Originally signed by Chicago as a non-drafted free agent on July 29, 2004, Bourque tallied 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 77 games as a rookie with the Blackhawks in 2005-06. He produced three straight 20-goal campaigns with the Flames from 2008-11, which included back-to-back 27-goal seasons in 2009-10 and 2010-11. The Lac La Biche, Alberta, native helped the Montreal Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Final in 2013-14, notching a team-leading eight goals (eight goals, three assists) in 17 playoff games that spring.
After a four-year collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin (2000-04), Bourque won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Trophy as the American Hockey League's rookie of the year with the Norfolk Admirals in 2004-05.
