National Hockey League Rene Bourque

alt = player stares distance. wearing red uniform black , yellow trim , stylized black c on chest.

on july 1, 2008, bourque traded calgary flames in exchange second round selection @ 2009 nhl entry draft. flames signed restricted free agent two-year contract. enjoyed career year in calgary included first hat trick, against ottawa senators, on december 27, 2008. suffered high ankle sprain sidelined him final 2 months of regular season. although limited 58 games, topped 20-goal plateau first time (21) , scored career high 40 points. returned in time play in 2009 stanley cup playoffs against blackhawks, though missed 1 game in series after re-aggravating injury. following season, opted surgery repair damage ankle.

bourque continued provide offence flames in 2009–10; leading flames in scoring in late november when again knocked out of line-up undisclosed injury. returned action after 2 weeks, having missed 6 games. bourque remained offensive catalyst throughout season, amassing new career high in goals (27), assists (31) , points (58), , +7 rating. following season, invited play team canada @ 2010 iihf world championship. scored 1 goal , 1 assist in 7 games seventh-place canadians.

signing him six-year contract extension worth $3.3 million per season in february 2010, flames looked bourque top player organization. though prone inconsistent play, considered 1 of flames top offensive threats, , player looked @ potentially succeeding captain jarome iginla team s scoring leader. played in 2011 heritage classic, scoring 2 goals in 4–0 win on montreal canadiens, , finished season second on team 27 goals.

bourque frequent lightning rod attention in 2011–12. following slow start season offensively, bourque criticized on national television hockey night in canada commentator kelly hrudey, questioned player s dedication , suggested bourque didn t care game. bourque expressed offence @ hrudey s comments, while teammates spoke out in defence. suspended twice within month illegal hits. received two-game ban on december 19, 2011, check behind against chicago s brent seabrook, , earned five-game suspension on january 4, 2012, elbow head of washington s nicklas bäckström. last game played flames. bourque sent montreal prospect patrick holland , second round draft pick on january 12 in exchange michael cammalleri, karri rämö , fifth round draft pick.

combined between calgary , montreal, bourque s 18 goals , 24 points lowest totals in 4 seasons. start 2012–13 season delayed injury. bourque suffered abdominal wall tear during off-season training required surgery repair.

on november 9, 2014, goalless , 13 games 2014–15 season, bourque placed on waivers montreal canadiens after recording 2 assists , -9. after clearing waivers on november 10, 2014, bourque subsequently sent montreal s ahl team, hamilton bulldogs bourque s tenure canadiens came end when traded anaheim ducks in exchange bryan allen on november 20, 2014. bourque featured in 30 games high-flying ducks, struggled regain scoring touch in producing 2 goals. after clearing waivers upon trade deadline, bourque included in second trade season along william karlsson , 2nd-round pick in 2015 columbus blue jackets in exchange james wisniewski , third-round selection in 2015. bourque assigned ahl affiliate, springfield falcons on march 2, 2015. before appearing falcons, bourque recalled blue jackets replacement injury.

at conclusion of long-term contract after 2015–16 season blue jackets, bourque went through off-season free agent before agreeing professional try-out offer join colorado avalanche training camp on august 25, 2016. after successful training camp , pre-season bourque solidified position on roster , extended nhl career in signing one-year, one-way deal 2016–17 season on october 10, 2016. bourque experienced productive start avalanche career, scoring 8 goals in first 19 games. bourque later cooled off offensively decline of avalanche on course of season, still however, finished respectable rebound year in compiling 12 goals , 18 points in 65 games.