The Colorado Avalanche announced today that the team has re-signed free agent left wing Gabriel Bourque to a one-year contract worth $950,000. This contract carries him through the 2018-19 season, and he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, 2019.
Welcome back, Gabriel Bourque!#GoAvsGo https://t.co/Ch94oAPROl
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 24, 2018
Gabriel Bourque’s new one-year contract with Avalanche is worth $950,000. A $200,000 raise @BSNDenver
— Adrian Dater (@adater) May 24, 2018
Gabriel Bourque Re-Signs With the Colorado Avalanche
Over his seven-year NHL career, Bourque has played for the Colorado Avalanche and the Nashville Predators. He has put up 36 goals and 53 assists for 89 career points in 306 career games. Bourque has also added 58 minutes in penalties. In 21 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, Bourque has added five goals and two assists for seven points. He was originally drafted in the fifth round, 132nd overall of the 2009 NHL Entry draft by the Predators.
Last season he scored five goals and six assists for 11 points in 58 games played. He also added 12 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 39.4 percent Corsi For and a relative Corsi of -9.3. Bourque added two goals in the Avalanche’s six-game first round playoff loss to the Predators.
After being non-tendered by the Predators, Bourque signed a two-year contract with the Avalanche in 2016. That contract was for $1.5 million, or a $750,000 AAV.
“Gabriel brings leadership and a veteran presence to our team,” said Avalanche executive vice-president and general manager Joe Sakic in a team press release. “He plays hard minutes, kills penalties and is reliable at both ends of the ice.”
What This Means for the Future
Bourque, 27, will be a bottom line grinder and depth player for the Avalanche. While his possession numbers are poor, it must be remembered that 59% of his zone starts are in the defensive zone, and the Avalanche give him tough assignments. He will continue to be a veteran presence with defensive minutes and penalty kill assignments. As long as the Avalanche are not expecting too much in the way of offence, they should get exactly what they are looking for in a fourth line player.
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