Thomas Bordeleau Bio
Thomas Bordeleau is an American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). A skilled left-shooting forward, he was selected 38th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft after a decorated path through USA Hockey’s development system and the University of Michigan. He has represented the United States in international competition and has moved through several organizations as a young prospect, including San Jose, New Jersey, and most recently St. Louis.
Early Life and Background
Thomas Bordeleau was born on January 3, 2002, in Houston, Texas, while his father Sébastien Bordeleau was playing for the Houston Aeros of the old International Hockey League. His mother, Chantal Dubois, is a gynecologist. After his father’s playing days wound down, the family moved to Switzerland, where Bordeleau spent roughly ten years of his childhood before relocating to Terrebonne, Quebec, in 2012, the same year his father retired from professional hockey. The bilingual upbringing shaped a trilingual profile today, as he holds American, Canadian, and French citizenship, with French as his first language.
Growing up in a hockey household gave Bordeleau an early immersion in the sport. His grandfather, Paulin Bordeleau, is also a former professional player, making the family deeply rooted in the game across generations. The moves between Texas, Switzerland, and Quebec exposed him to varied hockey cultures and helped build a versatile offensive skill set that scouts would later notice.
Path to Hockey
Bordeleau’s development accelerated when he joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), which competes in the United States Hockey League (USHL). During the 2018–19 season, he led his NTDP team in scoring with 16 goals and 23 assists across 56 games, establishing himself as one of the top American-born prospects for the next draft class. That performance directly contributed to his selection 38th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Rather than turn professional immediately, Bordeleau committed to the University of Michigan, where he played two seasons of NCAA Division I hockey with the Michigan Wolverines. His freshman campaign in 2020–21 was one of the most impressive in college hockey that year, as he led the nation in freshman scoring while also pacing the Wolverines with eight goals and 22 assists in 24 games. He added three game-winning goals, a plus-18 rating that ranked sixth-best in the Big Ten Conference, and a .580 faceoff win percentage that led the entire league. His sophomore season in 2021–22 saw him finish tied for fourth in Michigan scoring with 37 points, including 12 goals and 25 assists, before making the jump to professional hockey.
Thomas Bordeleau Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Bordeleau signed an amateur tryout contract with the San Jose Barracuda, San Jose’s AHL affiliate, on April 12, 2022, and made his professional debut the following day, recording three assists in his first AHL game. Only four days later, he inked a three-year entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks. He suited up for his first NHL game on April 17, 2022, picking up an assist in a 5–4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild, giving him a point in each of his first two professional contests at different levels.
The following season, Bordeleau continued to split time between the Sharks and the Barracuda, refining his two-way game and adjusting to the pace of the NHL. He re-signed with the Sharks on July 26, 2024, signaling the organization’s continued faith in his offensive upside.
NHL Breakthrough (2022–2025)
Bordeleau scored his first career NHL goal on October 14, 2023, in a 2–1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche, a memorable milestone that arrived in his early days as a full-time NHL contributor. He continued to log time at both center and wing for the Sharks through the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, providing secondary scoring and responsible two-way play.
On July 2, 2025, San Jose dealt him to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Shane Bowers, giving him a fresh start within a contender’s system. As a restricted free agent, he signed a one-year, two-way extension with the Devils on July 25, 2025, for the 2025–26 season, and was assigned to the Utica Comets, New Jersey’s AHL affiliate, where he produced two goals and six assists in 35 games during the first half of the campaign.
St. Louis Blues Era (2026–Present)
On February 4, 2026, Bordeleau was traded again, this time from New Jersey to the St. Louis Blues along with a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick in exchange for Nick Bjugstad. He was assigned to the Springfield Thunderbirds, St. Louis’s AHL affiliate, where he continues to develop as a prospect. The midseason move gave him a new organizational home and an opportunity to compete for NHL minutes in a Blues system that has long valued skilled, playmaking forwards.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bordeleau is widely regarded as a cerebral, playmaking forward with excellent vision, quick hands, and reliable faceoff skills, a package he demonstrated at Michigan by leading the Big Ten in faceoff win percentage as a freshman. His ability to operate effectively on the half-boards, distribute from the cycle, and contribute on the power play makes him a natural fit in a top-six role when given the opportunity, while his willingness to play a 200-foot game has helped him earn trust at both center and wing.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his standout moments are a three-assist professional debut with the San Jose Barracuda, a first NHL point in his debut against the Minnesota Wild, and a first NHL goal against the Colorado Avalanche in October 2023. He was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, won the Tim Taylor Award, and earned a spot on the United States roster for the 2022 IIHF World Championship as a 20-year-old.
Thomas Bordeleau Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Bordeleau family. Thomas is the son of former NHL forward Sébastien Bordeleau, who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, and others, and whose career gave the family its transcontinental footprint spanning Houston, Switzerland, and Quebec. Thomas is also the grandson of Paulin Bordeleau, another former professional hockey player, continuing a multi-generational connection to the sport.
Personal Life
Beyond the rink, Bordeleau maintains close ties to his family and his Quebec roots, where he settled during his teenage years. His mother, Chantal Dubois, works as a gynecologist, and the family has supported his hockey development across multiple countries. He holds trilateral citizenship in the United States, Canada, and France, and is bilingual in French and English.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 season has been one of transition for Bordeleau. After signing his extension with the New Jersey Devils in late July 2025, he was assigned to the Utica Comets, where he posted two goals and six assists in 35 games through early February, contributing offense while adjusting to a full-time AHL role.
On February 4, 2026, his season took another turn when he was traded to the St. Louis Blues and reassigned to the Springfield Thunderbirds. The midseason change brought a new opportunity to compete for NHL minutes within the Blues organization and re-establish his offensive rhythm at the top level.
