As the San Jose Sharks continue to prepare for the 2024-25 NHL season, one of the tasks they must accomplish is to determine who will be on their opening roster. This decision is still months away, but when it does happen, it will impact every player, whether they make the team or not. But perhaps no player will be more affected than forward Thomas Bordeleau. San Jose's 2020 second-round draft pick is entering his age-23 season, but the Sharks' increasingly strong prospect pool has pushed him toward the bottom of the depth chart. His future with the team is at a crossroads, and he may not be in the team's future plans, especially if he doesn't start the year in the NHL. Either way, the Sharks will have to make a tough choice about a player who was once one of their top prospects.
Sharks forward prospects hurt Bordeleau's chances
Through no fault of the Sharks, the many quality forward prospects they have drafted or acquired have diminished Bordeleau's presence in San Jose's farm system, and while Bordeleau had some good stretches in his pro career, they may not have been good enough to secure him a spot on the Sharks' NHL roster.
He played one full season with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League (AHL) and performed well in the 2023 preseason, earning a spot on the Sharks' opening roster. However, he was sent back down to the minor leagues after recording one goal and one assist in just six games. After recording 11 goals and 14 assists in 35 AHL games, he returned to the Sharks in March 2024 and spent the rest of the season there, performing much better and finally looking like an NHL contributor. He became a valuable addition to the power play, showed the ability to impact games around the crease, and also showed some improvement defensively. He needed to finish the season on a good note for his NHL future, and he did.
But a lot has happened with San Jose's young forwards since then. Will Smith signed his rookie contract, the Sharks drafted and signed Macklin Celebrini, and acquired Ty Dellandrea in a trade. Quentin Masti and David Edstrom aren't on an NHL roster yet, but they'll be on the radar soon. Add in the proven talents of William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund, and fill out the rest of the forward line with veterans, and Bordeleau's status with the Sharks becomes much more ambiguous.
Bordeleau's development hasn't been entirely linear, and he's just starting to develop into a fully fledged NHL player. Unfortunately, the timing of his development has coincided with the Sharks' forward prospects emerging as one of the best in the league. At this inflection point in his career, there's no guarantee he'll play in the NHL this season, and the Sharks must figure out what to do about that reality.
Bordeleau's contract situation leaves the Sharks with few options.
Bordeleau is currently a restricted free agent and is not eligible for an offer sheet, meaning the Sharks have a lot of control over the next step in his career. They have extended him a qualifying offer, indicating they intend to keep him with the team for at least a little longer. It remains to be seen whether he accepts that one-year deal and becomes an unrestricted free agent next season or negotiates a longer, more lucrative contract.
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Both options have pros and cons for both sides. The former allows Bordeleau and the Sharks to gauge his NHL future for a little longer without making a major commitment. But the Sharks risk losing him for free in 2025 if he has a breakout season. Bordeleau could also end up without a team after just one year if he continues to be torn between the NHL and AHL as he is now. Conversely, the Sharks could lock up a young player for multiple seasons, but that could prove to be a mistake if he doesn't have a home with the bigger club. Bordeleau could get more job security but end up signing a contract with a salary that doesn't match his value.
Finally, we need to consider the most extreme possibility. If talks break down and the Sharks and Bordeleau can't come to an agreement, they could trade his rights, perhaps to a team desperate for a defenseman or defensive prospect to bolster their defensive line. His NHL potential could be attractive to a team with plenty of defenders but few forwards, the opposite of the Sharks' situation. It's far from the most likely outcome, but it's something the San Jose front office needs to keep in mind.
The toughest decision of the offseason for the Sharks will be what to do with Bordeleau's future. It's entirely possible that Bordeleau won't be considered at all. Neither side can afford to wait any longer, and all parties involved should get an answer soon.
