New Jersey Devils trade for Thomas Bordeleau is a clear victory

The New Jersey Devils and GM Tom Fitzgerald needed some wins this offseason, and this random Wednesday afternoon trade for San Jose Sharks prospect Thomas Bordeleau is one of a few so far. Fitzgerald and Co. continued the offseason theme of adding speed and skill, first drafting Conrad Fondrk and Ben Kevan, then signing Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov.

Bordeleau, 23, may or may not make an impact at the NHL level, but at the cost of just Shane Bowers, a fellow former top center prospect two years his senior, it's a clear win for the Devils.

Bordeleau, drafted 38th overall by the Sharks in 2020, is a former teammate of Devils Luke Hughes and Ethan Edwards from their days at the University of Michigan together.

Notably, in his D+1 season in 2020-21, Bordeleau scored 30 points in 24 games. Teammate and 2021 No. 5 overall pick Kent Johnson scored 37 points in 32 games in his D+1 season a year later. Basically, that's just one example to show Bordeleau wasn't outshone by the other great NHL talents he featured alongside in college.

The 5-foot-10 forward has had a rockier road towards the NHL than the others, though, primarily due to the Sharks not being the friendliest of teams to develop and grow on these days.

Bordeleau did, however, enjoy a breakout of sorts just a year ago, scoring six goals, five assists, and 11 points in a 27-game cameo with the Sharks in 2023-24.

This past season, however, the new Devils prospect played just one NHL game and had a so-so season in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda, scoring 14 goals, 24 assists, and 38 points in 59 games.

Bordeleau also went his last eight AHL games without a point, struggling to the finish line like now-departed Devils prospect Nolan Foote.

But, all in all, Bordeleau already has 18 points in 44 NHL games. He's shown that he can play at that level. To what degree, and if that's prolonged throughout his career, remains to be seen.

And even if Bordeleau ends up as nothing but an AHL player for the Devils, he's an upgrade over Bowers, who is two years older, has zero points in 13 NHL games, and stumbled to three goals and 17 points in 65 AHL games with the Utica Comets this past season.

Bordeleau is a better prospect, a more prolific player, and a better call-up option if needed. If there is a case to be made for Bordeleau making the Devils' roster this season, aside from his talent and connection to Hughes, it's his 52.9% faceoff percentage from his only extended period of NHL action in 2023-24.

The Devils are yet to add another center to complement Cody Glass in the bottom-six, and perhaps with an impressive training camp, Bordeleau can snatch a job from another NHL hopeful. If we think this is a win now, imagine what this trade looks like in a few months if that happens.