No. 8 Thomas Bordeleau: Ready for the NHL?

For two seasons now, Sharks fans have salivated at the thought of Thomas Bordeleau making the jump to the NHL. The 21-year-old was considered a great pick when the Sharks called his name at 38th overall in 2020.

Position: Center
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 175 lbs.
Age: 21
Date of Birth: January 3, 2002
Draft Year: 2020, 38th overall by the San Jose Sharks
Shoots: Left
2023-24 Team: San Jose Barracuda

The pick looked even better when Bordeleau had a stellar rookie season at the University of Michigan. He led the nation in freshman scoring and had 30 points in 24 games for the Wolverines. A second season with Michigan went just as well, where Bordeleau continued on a point-per-game pace, scoring 37 points (12 G, 25 A) in 37 games.

Bordeleau turned pro following his sophomore season. He joined the Barracuda, but quickly found himself in the Sharks lineup instead. On April 24, 2022, Bordeleau scored his first NHL goal, albeit in the shootout, and eliminated the Vegas Golden Knights from the playoffs.

Despite playing in his first NHL games at the conclusion of the 2022 season, Bordeleau started the 2022-23 season with the Barracuda. He did well in his rookie season and finished with 41 points (22 G, 19 A) in 67 games. He tied for second on the team in goals and earned a spot representing the Barracuda at the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic.

He received another call up to the Sharks at the end of last season, though he did not have the success that he had in his previous stint with the big club. He had just two assists in eight games. While his point total was not there, Bordeleau did log more minutes per game than in his previous eight games with the Sharks.

The young forward spent this summer at home in Montreal, something he hasn’t been able to do the past few summers. Bordeleau told Ted Ramey of Sharks Hockey Digest that between preparing for the world juniors and other national teams the past few summers, things were “hectic” and didn’t leave him much time to work on his game. This summer, it was different.

“This summer was really about taking more steps with my body, the gym and also on the ice. I think it was really good for that,” said Bordeleau. “We haven’t done really anything different; it’s just we never really had the time to do exactly what we wanted to do.”

What we like

One of the things that we have appreciated about Bordeleau is how he has elevated and adapted his game at every level he’s played at. He was only a second-round pick on an impressive 2020 University of Michigan team that included first round draft picks like Matty Beniers, Kent Johnson and Owen Power. Yet somehow, Bordeleau stood out with his play on the ice. He used his two seasons with the Wolverines to refine his game and work on the areas that needed improvement.

It was something that The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler recognized in his 2023 prospect pool rankings.

“[Bordeleau’s] habits off of the puck, commitment to the fight and faceoffs (which he excels at taking both ways) have all become assets,” wrote Wheeler. “Bordeleau’s crafty and unpredictable. His reflexes and dexterity (catching passes in his feet to his stick seamlessly, etc.) get high marks. And while he can also force it a little, I don’t think that should be discouraged in high-skill players.

“He has also worked hard to keep himself more and more involved in the play over the years. Bordeleau’s game blends a puck-dominant, play-driving style with problem-solving skill and excellent east-west peripheral vision,” continued Wheeler. “And despite his 5-foot-9 frame, I wouldn’t call him tiny and he has proven he can handle physical engagements and bumps just fine in the AHL. He also shields and protects the puck so well for a smaller player, especially leaning into guys with one hand on his stick. He’s a deceptive player who projects as a middle-six piece who can play on a power-play unit at his ceiling.”

Areas of improvement

For Bordeleau, the goal is not to add weight to his 5-foot-10 frame but rather to add power.

In his interview with Ramey, Bordeleau was candid about what he’s been working on in the summer to make himself a better option for the Sharks entering training camp. Bordeleau said he wants to be “more efficient” with “quick skating” and he’s not looking to get bigger as much as stronger. He wants to add power and strength to his speed, creating an explosiveness and quickness that will help him excel at the next level.

“I want to accelerate with the puck. I don’t want to be fast and then you get the puck and then you kind of, your feet stop moving and start just looking around to make something happen,” said Bordeleau. “I’ve been working on that a lot this season of when I get the puck, skate…and then kind of look around for a play and stuff like that but just move your feet as soon as you get it.”

Working with a guy like Patrick Marleau when training camp starts might help Bordeleau reach his goal. Sharks fans know that Marleau wasn’t always the biggest guy on the ice, but he was fast and he knew how to accelerate quickly. A Marleau type of explosiveness may be just what Bordeleau needs to make himself an asset to the Sharks.

Highlights

A couple of highlights to feature Bordeleau’s skills. The first is from his first AHL hat trick in November of 2022. In the clip, you can see all three goals from Bordeleau. On the second goal, he simply powers the shot past the opposing goaltender. Then, on the third goal, he’s working hard to get a stick on the puck during a scramble in front of the net and he is rewarded with the final goal of the hat trick.

This second clip features Bordeleau at the AHL All-Star game. This was his true time to show off his skating and stickhandling prowess.