Gabriel Bourque signs one year extension with the Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche announced today that they have re-signed Gabriel Bourque to a one year extension for the 2018-19 season. The term is $950,000 on a one-way contract.

Bourque initially arrived in Colorado on a PTO in training camp for the infamous 2016-17 season. He was then signed to a two-way deal at the conclusion of camp and spent the bulk of the season in the AHL with the San Antonio Rampage. He scored 33 points with 10 goals and was a good veteran presence on the team. Bourque would get six games with the Avalanche early in the season but was never called up again, much to the confusion of many as they watched the season take a turn for the worse.

The Avalanche would bring Bourque back for the 2017-18 season on another two-way contract and sent him back down to start the season again in the AHL with San Antonio. Then the opposite happened as Bourque was called up after five games in the minors and stayed all season with the Avalanche scoring 11 points including five goals in 58 games plus two goals in the playoffs. Bourque was on recall when Matt Duchene was traded and it opened up a permanent spot on the roster for him. He would end up a mainstay in the lineup by the end of the season and one of head coach Jared Bednar’s most trusted penalty killers.

While the bulk of this contract extension could be buried fully in the minors if need be, the one-way term and raise suggests that the Avalanche are looking to keep him on the club as a depth piece. Bourque has earned his spot with hard work and a dependable game and has chipped in a couple big goals here and there even if he is not relied on as a major point producer.