What happened: Bordeleau reached free agency after St. Louis declined to qualify him following a 2025-26 season spent in the minors. He split that year between Utica and Springfield and did not appear in an NHL game.

Why it matters: The move gives Rochester added center depth a few weeks before the AHL season and places Bordeleau one call away from the Buffalo Sabres. For Bordeleau, it is another reset after he pushed for a fresh start out of San Jose and still has to play his way back onto an NHL contract.

What to watch: His place in Rochester's opening roster and any early top-six usage will show how much runway this deal carries. A strong start would be the clearest path back into NHL consideration.