Bordeleau Shines With 3 Assists in Pro Debut

Thomas Bordeleau made his pro hockey debut on Wednesday night, and he looked comfortable doing it.

So comfortable that it took him just seconds into his first shift to find his first point. Then, he went on to pick up two more within the first 40 minutes of play.

It’s safe to say Bordeleau has picked up right where he left off when Michigan’s season came to an end on Apr. 7. Bordeleau scored the goal that sent the Frozen Four tilt versus Denver to overtime.

The top San Jose Sharks prospect talked about the process of going from that loss to San Jose: “I think my decision was [easy]. I mean, all of our decisions.

“We talked, me, Owen [Power], Kent [Johnson], Briss [Brendan Brisson], and Matty [Beniers] and all of our decisions were pretty much made.

“Then it was just a matter of speaking with the Sharks. I didn’t really get involved in all of that. I let [agent] Pat Brisson do the whole thing.”

Thomas Bordeleau was still feeling the Michigan mentality tonight.

“Coming back from really intense championship games, and do or die games, I was kind of in that mindset. It’s already in my head. I feel like I’m in peak season shape, even if it’s towards the end,” Bordeleau said after his three assist-performance tonight. “I played a lot of hockey, but I felt good out there.”

🚨 First @TheAHL point for @Thomasbord71 and it only took 60 seconds! pic.twitter.com/5tpUag3K6w

— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 14, 2022

His first point was a pretty one, as he looked off Condors goalie Stuart Skinner, then fired it, handcuffing a goalie who’s showed well up with the Edmonton Oilers this year. Lane Pederson cashed in on the rebound to get Bordeleau his first point in teal.

“I kind of had in my head to just kind of get my confidence in pretty early, just get the pucks on net and just try to shoot,” he said. “It’s definitely a kind of a relief. You’re scared to not perform well.”

At 14:13 of the first period, Bordeleau had what was probably his best chance of the game to score with a mini breakaway, but he only managed to get a small shot off that the Condors netminder managed to easily save.

Good two-way hockey from Bordeleau pic.twitter.com/wDzxTnFryq

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 14, 2022

His second point came on a Jasper Weatherby goal, picking up the secondary assist and showing that he can add some offense to a generally productive Barracuda power play.

cleaning up in front on #WeatherbyWednesday🧹 pic.twitter.com/SQiMTw5pz0

— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 14, 2022

Then, Bordeleau picked up his third and final point of the night, turning in a point on each of the three Barracuda goals in the 6-3 loss. His ability to think the game shone through here:

The camera doesn't catch it, but when Kniazev is advancing puck up the ice, Bordeleau points to Halbgewachs stationary at blueline ahead, perhaps hoping to be the recipient of a chip & chase from Jayden

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 14, 2022

In just his first game in the AHL, Bordeleau gained the trust of Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer to play on the power play, and in the last two minutes of the game.

“I thought he was pretty good,” Sommer said. “I think he thinks the American League’s going to be easy, 3 assists his first game. That’s kind of hard to do.”

Thomas Bordeleau wouldn’t say if this AHL audition — the Barracuda’s season ends on Apr. 23 — would be a prelude to an NHL appearance this season. The 2020 second-round pick is currently signed to a tryout contract with the Barracuda and the San Jose Sharks would burn a year off his entry-level contract if he plays in the NHL this season.

“You never know what the future holds,” he said, “but all my efforts are devoted to this team.”