Blues Acquire Thomas Bordeleau from Devils; Bordeleau to Join Springfield Thunderbirds

The St. Louis Blues have acquired forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft from the New Jersey Devils in a swap that sent veteran Nick Bjugstad to New Jersey. “St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today that the team has acquired forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Nick Bjugstad.” Bordeleau will report to the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.

The transaction adds a young depth piece with AHL scoring history to the Blues organization while moving a long-tenured NHL veteran to the Devils. The conditional status of the fourth-round pick was noted in team releases, but the specific trigger for the condition was not disclosed. One independent outlet has claimed the pick will be one of New Jersey’s two 2026 fourth-round selections - Dallas or Winnipeg - with the later pick conveyed, but that allocation is not confirmed by team or league announcements.

Thomas Bordeleau, 24, is a Houston, Texas native who was drafted in the second round, 38th overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Bordeleau has compiled 196 career AHL regular-season games with 115 points, including 49 goals and 66 assists, and has 126 career AHL penalty minutes. This season he dressed in 35 games for the Utica Comets, recording two goals, six assists and 37 penalty minutes. Bordeleau has also appeared in 44 NHL regular-season games with the Sharks, totaling 18 points (six goals, 12 assists).

Nick Bjugstad, 33, brings depth and experience to New Jersey. Bjugstad was signed by St. Louis as a free agent last July and this season dressed in 35 games for the Blues, posting seven points with six goals and one assist and accumulating 25 penalty minutes. Across a 795-game NHL career, Bjugstad has 337 points, including 163 goals.

From a performance standpoint, the swap signals St. Louis is prioritizing organizational depth and AHL scoring upside over a veteran roster piece. Bordeleau’s AHL resume and participation in the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic underline his pedigree, but his 2025-26 production has dipped to eight points in 35 games, a detail cited by critics who argue the move constitutes a modest return for Bjugstad. That commentary should be read as analysis by an independent outlet, not as a team assessment.

For Springfield fans, Bordeleau adds a name to follow down the stretch. “Bordeleau will report to the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.” The Thunderbirds begin a busy road stretch with a visit to Syracuse to face the Crunch at 7:00 p.m. on a Wednesday night in early February, and single-game tickets and ticket memberships for the remaining 2025-26 home slate are available now by phone at (413) 739-GOAL (4625).

Next steps include clarity on the pick condition and confirmation of Bordeleau’s arrival timeline in Springfield. On-ice, Bordeleau will have a chance to reassert the scoring touch that produced 115 AHL points through his first four professional seasons, while Bjugstad offers New Jersey a proven middle-six option and playoff experience. Fans should watch how Bordeleau adapts to the Thunderbirds’ lineup and whether the conditional draft asset becomes a meaningful haul for St. Louis.