Thomas Bordeleau is on the move again, and this time he's heading back to the Western Conference.
The 24-year-old forward has been acquired by the St. Louis Blues from the New Jersey Devils, along with a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, in exchange for veteran center Nick Bjugstad. It’s a deal that gives the Blues a young, still-developing forward with upside, while the Devils bring in a reliable, experienced presence down the middle.
For Bordeleau, this marks the third organization he's been a part of in less than a year. He was originally drafted 38th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Draft and spent parts of four seasons in teal.
During that stretch, he appeared in 44 NHL games, tallying six goals and 12 assists for 18 points. While he showed flashes of creativity and offensive instincts, he never quite carved out a permanent role in San Jose’s lineup.
The Sharks dealt him to New Jersey this past offseason in exchange for Shane Bowers, and Bordeleau spent his time with the Devils organization skating in the AHL for the Utica Comets. In 35 games this season with Utica, he posted two goals and six assists-modest numbers, but he continued to showcase his playmaking ability and vision in the offensive zone.
Now, with a fresh opportunity in St. Louis, Bordeleau will look to reset and push for a bigger role.
The Blues, in the midst of retooling their roster, are taking a calculated swing on a player who still has the tools to develop into a solid contributor at the NHL level. His agility, hockey IQ, and puck skills have always been his calling card, and if he can find consistency, the Blues may have picked up a sneaky-good asset.
On the flip side, New Jersey gets a dependable two-way forward in Bjugstad, who brings size, experience, and a steady presence to their bottom six. He’s the kind of player who can eat up tough minutes, win faceoffs, and provide leadership-an important addition for a Devils team looking to solidify its playoff push.
For Bordeleau, this is another chapter in a young career that’s already seen a fair amount of movement. But sometimes, all it takes is the right fit to unlock a player’s potential.
The Blues are betting that St. Louis can be that place.