The New Jersey Devils signed forward Thomas Bordeleau to a one-year, two-way contract on July 24th, following a trade with the San Jose Sharks earlier this month.

The deal is worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 in the AHL, with $125,000 guaranteed. Because it’s a two-way contract, Bordeleau may begin the season with the Utica Comets, giving the Devils added roster and salary cap flexibility.

However, cracking New Jersey’s deep prospect pool might be Bordeleau’s biggest challenge.

Now entering his fifth professional season, Bordeleau has spent most of his time in the AHL with the San Jose Barracudas. He’s appeared in 44 NHL games, tallying 18 points (six goals, 12 assists), but has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHLer.

At 5'10", Bordeleau is a quick, skilled center whose speed and versatility could make him a valuable asset in the Devils’ bottom six. Still, he hasn’t found much success at the NHL level, and even his AHL production has left room for improvement. He recorded just 38 points in 59 games last season with the Barracuda.

One thing working in his favor? Familiarity. Bordeleau played alongside Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and Utica’s Ethan Edwards during the 2021–22 season at the University of Michigan. Reuniting with former teammates could provide the chemistry and confidence boost he needs.

That said, the path to the NHL is crowded. As Tony Ferrari of The Hockey News recently outlined, the Devils have one of the league’s most promising prospect pools:

Top Devils Prospects

LW: Lenni Hämeenaho, Cole Brown, Josh Filmon, Shane Lachance C: Conrad Fondrk, Gustav Hillstrom, Samu Salminen, Matyas Melovsky, Mason Moe

RW: Arseniy Gritsyuk, Ben Kevan, Cam Squires, David Rozsival

LD: Anton Silayev, Daniil Orlov, Topias Vilén, Daniil Karpovich

RD: Simon Nemec, Seamus Casey, Sigge Holmstrom, Charlie Leddy

G: Mikhail Yegorov, Trenten Bennett, Veeti Louhivaara, Tyler Brennan, Jakub Malek

Bordeleau will be competing with the likes of Conrad Fondrk and Lenni Hämeenaho, both of whom have already made strong impressions on the Devils’ staff.

If Bordeleau hopes to solidify an NHL future, he’ll need to outperform the competition and prove he belongs on a team with playoff aspirations.

There’s a real chance everything clicks for him this season. He’s got the pedigree, the speed, and the support system in place. But make no mistake: this might be his final shot to carve out a career in the pros.

For Thomas Bordeleau, the time to make a statement in New Jersey is now.

Opinion: Devils Should Take a Chance on Bordeleau