As we head into day 2 of free agency, the Sharks have made a flurry of minor transactions, primarily resulting in added depth for the Barracuda.
The most significant move of the bunch is trading Thomas Bordeleau to the New Jersey Devils for Shane Bowers. Thomas Bordeleau was once viewed as a top prospect for the Sharks after a solid career at the University of Michigan. Unfortunately, the 2020 2nd round pick has not been able to recapture that success in the pro ranks. Bordeleau has 18 points in 44 games at the NHL level, which is not bad on the surface. However, the Center is a non-factor both physically and defensively at the NHL level, in addition to lacking size at 5’10". With this trade, Bordeleau will get a fresh start to try to jump-start his career.
In return, the Sharks are acquiring Shane Bowers, drafted in the first round by Ottawa back in 2017. The 25-year-old has bounced around the league since and has failed to score much since making the jump to pro-hockey, scoring just 97 points in 282 games in the AHL and 0 points in 13 games at the NHL level. So, despite being a former first-round pick, he has little to offer the Sharks in terms of future outlook.
While the Sharks give up potentially the more productive player in Bordeleau in this swap, the main goal lies in clearing AHL space. The Sharks are bringing in a lot of young players, such as Musty, Halttunen, and Chernyshov, who will need roles for the Cuda or potentially the Sharks next season. A player like Bordeleau would have potentially created a logjam next season, but Bowers can be more useful in a depth role on the Cuda.
In other news, the Sharks have signed forward Pavol Regenda to a new 2-way deal. The Sharks acquired him from Anaheim in-season last year, and he played well for the Cuda down the stretch with 25 points in 36 games. The 25-year-old is expected to play mainly for the Cuda next season.
Finally, the Sharks added Center, Jimmy Huntington, Winger, Samuel Laberge, and Defenseman Cole Clayton on two-way deals. All three are AHL veterans and will add some veteran leadership to a Cuda room that will be very young next season.
While all of these moves will largely impact the Cuda, it's vital for the Sharks to continue to invest in their farm team. The best organizations are built from the ground up, and creating a winning culture in the AHL will only help the Sharks with player development and continuity within their organization. Something that has been lacking for the Sharks in the past.