Mavrik Bourque Excited To Learn and Grow In Nashville

Dallas drafted Bourque with a first round pick in 2020. He dominated in the AHL, winning the Les Cunningham Award as league MVP in 2023-24 putting up 26 goals and 77 points in 71 games. The Stars called him up in April of 2024 and he became a full time player the following year. Bourque has 31 goals and 66 points in two seasons for the Stars and appears poised to establish himself as one of the top young forwards in the NHL.

Bourque lamented over his time in Dallas with NHL Network, but is looking forward to the opportunity to break out in Nashville this season.

"Yeah, obviously, I really liked Dallas, for me it really felt like home, so I didn't want to get traded at all," Bourque said. "It's a business, and with the cap situation now these days, I knew a trade was probably coming. I felt like I was in a good situation over there, but on the other side, I get to a place where I will have more opportunity and get a six-year deal. Yeah, so I think it worked out good and I'm happy to be a Nashville Predator now."

Bourque's played three games in Bridgestone Arena with the Stars, scoring a goal and three points against his new team. He said that's about all of Nashville that he knows so far, but credited a new teammate from his home town for preparing him for life in Tennessee.

"Not much, to be honest," Bourque said. "I know [Matt] Duchene brought us some on his golf course here at Troubadour, but the rest, I know one bar on Broadway and one dinner spot, so that's pretty much it. But Marcia's [Jonathan Marchessault] also from Quebec City, so he invited me over a few times this summer. So he was talking to me about the city a little bit more. So kind of learned it a little bit more from him."

He's only been with the Predators a short time, but the 24-year-old is looking forward to growing his game in the middle of a veteran filled locker room.

"Yeah, it's going to be great, I think. Especially for me being a young guy, being around those guys and [Steven] Stamkos, a guy that's always scored his entire career, just learning from the way he scored. A guy like [Ryan] O'Reilly, like I've only been here for four days and just the way he approaches every practice and puts in the extra time, I'm grateful to have the chance to learn from those guys."

Bourque and the Predators open training camp this month, with the first preseason game coming on Sept. 20 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The young center has a few weeks to acclimate to Nashville's roster as the organization looks to return to the playoffs after a two-year absence.