While a new batch of talent entered the San Jose Sharks organization over the past 12 months, one player in particular has suffered as a result, Thomas Bordeleau.
The 23-year-old former second-round pick hasn’t taken a step forward with the San Jose Barracuda this season. In fact, he’s producing at a lower rate. Last season in the American Hockey League, Bordeleau played 35 games, recording 25 points, 11 of which were goals. This season, he’s played the same amount of games but only has 8 goals and 22 points. At such a crucial stage in his development, a step in the wrong direction has likely derailed his future in teal.
Bordeleau played a career-high 27 games in the NHL last season and produced at a decent offensive rate. He had 11 points, which put him on pace for roughly 33 points over the course of a full 82-game season. Those numbers would be respectable for a bottom-six forward, but there were definitely holes in his game.
The team struggled mightily defensively when Bordeleau was on the ice, allowing 18 goals against in those 27 games. The opposition generated considerably more scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances than his line as well.
Since Bordeleau last played in the NHL, quite a few players have jumped him in the depth chart. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith are obvious, but it’s become clear that Mike Grier would rather recall other members of the Barracuda when injuries ravage the Sharks.
Collin Graf, Ethan Cardwell, Danil Gushchin, even Scott Sabourin and Colin White, have all seen time in the NHL this season. Bordeleau, on the other hand, hasn’t played a single game for the Sharks this season.
Part of the reason, at least for the veterans, is due to the role the Sharks needed to fill at the time. When it comes to the other prospects, though, Bordeleau could’ve done the same job, but it seems that management is running out of patience with him.
With Mikael Granlund already moved out of the organization and more trades expected to come ahead of the trade deadline, if Bordeleau is going to get a chance to redeem himself in the NHL, an opportunity should come soon. That does bring another question, though: could he be one of the pieces traded at the upcoming deadline?
While the prospect-for-prospect moves are more common in the offseason, the Sharks do need to add some defensive depth to their prospect pool. As a result, if they could find a defenseman facing a similar issue in another organization that lacks forward depth, a hockey trade could make sense. Obviously, the Sharks aren’t going to be buying any assets at the deadline but they could also use Bordeleau as a sweetener in a deal to boost their return for a player like Jan Rutta or Nico Sturm.
If Mike Grier doesn’t see Bordeleau as a useful asset at the NHL level anymore, a change of scenery while he still has some value and his NHL potential could still be salvaged by another organization would be best for both parties.
On the other hand, if it’s simply a matter of a congested roster and bad luck that has led to Bordeleau staying in the AHL full-time, he could get an opportunity to prove himself late in the season and solidify himself as a part of the Sharks’ long-term plans.
At this point, it seems more likely than not that Bordeleau will be on his way out of San Jose in the near future, considering he’s struggled to build on a strong 2023-24 season, but if the Sharks do give him one more chance, he needs to take advantage of it and make an impact.
