San Jose Sharks forward prospect Thomas Bordeleau has played 43 career games in the NHL.
San Jose drafted Bordeleau in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft and was perceived as a higher-rated prospect than average, depending on who you asked. Still, regardless, the organization had high hopes for the forward.
After dealing with an injury to start the season that led to a slow offensive start, the former Michigan Wolverine has found his game with four goals and five assists in his last 11 AHL games for the San Jose Barracuda.
Bordeleau has 11 goals and 16 assists in 40 games for the season. Although drafted as a natural center, Bordeleau finds himself on the wing.
He’s been playing with the AHL’s top scorer, Andrew Poturalski (20-30-50), and Ethan Cardwell on the Barracuda top line.
After this season, the 23-year-old will be a restricted free agent and have arbitration rights. It seems evident that Bordeleau will get another look in the NHL after the trade deadline on March 7th, but nothing is certain.
San Jose has often called up Collin Graf as their main forward replacement, but with more trades looming soon, Bordeleau’s improvement in play in the AHL has lifted him back into the conversation.
The San Jose Sharks must decide to extend or move on from Bordeleau this offseason. General Manager Mike Grier might have his mind made up, but he could also give him one last chance in the NHL.
During the 2023-24 season, Bordeleau scored three goals in his first two games and then just twice more, all in one game, in the following 19 to close out the season.
The remainder of the season is critical for Bordealu if he wants to continue his NHL dreams in the San Jose Sharks organization. If the Sharks don’t tender a contract to the prospect, he will hit the market as an unrestricted free agent.
Bordeleau’s play is on the rise, but will it be enough? He needs one more NHL stint; if he gets that chance and plays well, that might not be enough to save his Sharks career.
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