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Gabriel Bourque signs two-year contract extension with Nashville…

The Nashville Predators have been busy lately. And for good reason. Starting Saturday at 10:59pm Central, the teams and their players won’t be able to have discussions of any kind, let alone contract negotiations.

So they’re taking care of that now.

Defenseman Jon Blum signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Predators yesterday, 2012 second round pick Colton Sissons inked a three-year entry level contract on Thursday and, today, Gabriel Bourque re-upped with Nashville for two years.

He will be paid $725,000 in 2013-14 and then $825,000 in 2014-15, making it a two-year deal worth $1.55 million.

Not necessarily known for his offense, the Rimouski, Quebec native posted an impressive 19 points in 43 regular season games last season. He followed that up by becoming one of the most important forwards during the playoffs for the Predators. He put up the second most points on the team, tallying five points in just 10 games.

His speed and tenacity make him very tough to play against in the attacking zone and his skill and sound backchecking make him a force to be reckoned with in the defensive zone.

The official press release is below.

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Nashville, Tenn. (September 14, 2012) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Gabriel Bourque to a two-year, $1.55 million contract which starts with the 2013-14 season. The deal will pay him $725,000 in 2013-14 and $825,000 in 2014-15.

Bourque, 21 (9/23/90), posted 19 points (7g-12a) in 43 games during his rookie NHL season in 2011-12, ranking ninth in points per game among rookies who appeared in at least half their team’s games (.44). During the 2012 playoffs, the 5-10, 192-pound winger tied for the team lead in goals (3), and ranked third in points (5), also ranking among the rookie leaders in both categories. Bourque set franchise records for points (3g-1a-4pts) and plus-minus rating (+5) by a rookie in a playoff series in Nashville’s Western Conference Quarterfinal victory vs. Detroit, which included scoring two goals, including the game winner, in his NHL playoff debut in Game One, making him the third player in the last 14 playoff years to attain the feat.

The Rimouski, Que., native – selected 132nd overall (fifth round), in the 2009 Entry Draft – helped Moncton win the 2010 President’s Trophy as QMJHL Champions and advance to the 2010 Memorial Cup, being awarded the 2010 Guy Lafleur Trophy as playoffs MVP in the process. Bourque earned a silver medal with Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championships.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Fuqua // Flickr (used with permission)