Nashville Predators Rookie Camp begins on September 10th, so to help you get ready we'll walk our way through the prospects, from youngest to oldest.

Gabriel Bourque, Left Wing - #57

Born: September 23, 1990 From: Rimouski, Que.

Height: 5-10 Weight: 192 Shoots: Left

2010-2011 Team: Milwaukee (AHL)

Stats: 78 GP, 18G + 18A = 36 Pts, 19 PIM

Drafted: 2009 5th round (132) by Nashville

Follow after the jump for some background!

Scouting Report

Here's what Seth had to say leading into this summer's Development Camp:

A feisty forward with a good motor, Bourque has great hands and good offensive instinct.  He also does a lot of the little things away from the puck that endear him to coaches and earns playing time.     

And Ryan, from last October (a profile piece I highly recommend brushing up on):

His particular style is something that every team wants, and is an amazing asset when applied correctly to the NHL games.  Assistant GM Paul Fenton offers up these thoughts:

"Whenever you talk to someone who has played the game, they tell you when they try to escape from somebody and the guy leaves him alone, it's the easiest game in the world.  With Gabe, every time he gets walked by, he's going back to the guy.  He's like a dog on a bone -- he just stays with it and stays with it and stays with it."

Every team can use a pest.

"The best thing that Gabe does, he's got second and third effort no matter what happens," Fenton says.  "He's staying with pucks, he's making it miserable to play against."

That sounds like a Predator to me... could he be The Tikk for Nashville?

Arbitrary nickname we'll give him even though he'd probably hate it

"Gabby" - come on now, who wouldn't love to be named after a guy like this?

Video

Cue the highlight reel!

What's at stake

Bourque could well set himself up as Callup #1 if the Predators need someone to fill in for a scoring winger due to injury. Certainly he'll be expected to be a leading offensive performer for Milwaukee on a nightly basis. During his first AHL regular season he put up 36 points in 78 games, but then flourished with 7 goals and 6 assists in 13 playoff contests.