San Jose Sharks forward Thomas Bordeleau will become a restricted free agent this summer, and his future with the team is uncertain.
Like fellow Sharks prospect Danil Gushchin, a decision about a potential return must be made. Bordeleau suffered a concussion in his only NHL game this season. The winger expressed a reasonable frustration for not getting more NHL time than in years past.
“For sure. If there’s no frustration, you shouldn’t be playing hockey. So yeah, there’s definitely frustration,” Bordeleau said. “That’s just the sport we play in. It’s a business.”
Bordeleau was coming off a career high 27 games with the San Jose Sharks in 23-24, but an injury during training camp this season derailed his chances from the start.
Injuries plagued the 23-year-old late in the season as well. Bordeleau suffered the first concussion of his career in the first period against the Calgary Flames. The Sharks forward said he finished the game, but the symptoms arrived shortly after.
“My luck hasn’t been so great lately. There were only two games after that, so it would have been a total of three games. It’s bittersweet, but it could have happened at a worse moment,” Bordeleau said.
Since being drafted in 2020, Bordeleau has dealt with a heavy turnover of San Jose Sharks head coaches. The forward has played for Bob Boughner, David Quinn, and Ryan Warsofsky. Former Sharks GM Doug Wilson drafted him, not current GM Mike Grier.
“It’s definitely been tough. Even the whole management, that’s not who drafted me. It’s definitely not what I was expecting when I got drafted. Like I said, it’s a business, and there are a lot of moving parts at all time, and there’s no messing around,” Bordeleau said. “Just something you gotta adapt to. It wasn’t maybe the most ideal for me personally, but I didn’t put too much thought into that. I was just trying to focus on what I can control.”
Sharks staff turnover is not what Bordeleau expected
When Doug Wilson stepped away from the San Jose Sharks organization, Bordeleau was one of many draft picks that took on the brunt of uncertainty. Mike Grier has shifted his approach to drafting bigger players like Kasper Halttunen, Quentin Musty, and Filip Bystedt.
At 5’10, Bordeleau certantly isn’t the biggest forward. Despite that, he felt after his trip to the 2022 IIHF World Championship with Team USA would be a launching point for consistant NHL time.
“After my first couple games in the NHL, during the summer and after going to worlds, [it] seemed like they were ready for me to play an 82 game season in the NHL. Ready to have a good summer, and hit the ground running after a good camp,” Bordeleau said. “Then everything changed. Again, that’s hockey, it’s a business. Doug Wilson had to leave. I’m forever grateful he drafted me, and it’s given me the three good years here.”
The Sharks forward has never experienced pending free agency of any kind in his young hockey career, but he understands that the questions of his future are just part of today’s game.
“Every single player goes through it in professional hockey. It’s part of the this new game when you turn pro,” Boredeleau said. “It’s a big business and you just gotta go through it and try to stay even keel through everything. I’ll just focus on my training a lot this summer.”
As an RFA the San Jose Sharks will have the decision to qualify him or not. If San Jose doesn’t qualify the forward, he will hit the unrestricted free agent market on July 1.
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