Unexpected Defenseman Earns Title Of Top-Three Defenders In The NHL Despite The Rangers Ongoing Struggles
Photo credit: Michael Reaves
The New York Rangers $20.5 million defenseman, Will Borgen, landed in an unexpected place this season. According to one NHL Analyst, Borgen is in the top-10 defensive defenseman in the league.
Just below Brandt Clarke, Wyatt Kaiser, defenseman Will Borgen has landed on an unexpected list this season.
According to Dom Luszczyszyn, Borgen is one of the best defensive players in the league this season.
His rating according to Luszcyszyn is a 1.2+, which places him behind a Blackhawks prospect, Kaiser, and former 1st-round pick Brandt Clarke.
You can see, based on the stat cards below, how great he is at helping the Rangers control the ice, with his XGF% in the positive rankings, and controlling the ice on the defensive with a GA above 3.0.
2nd-Pairing Defenseman Will Borgen can be an impact player for the Rangers
When the Rangers signed him to a 5-year, $20.5 million deal, the Rangers intended to keep him around.
Selected in the fourth round (No. 92) of the 2015 Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Borgen played 14 games over two seasons for the Sabres before he was claimed by Seattle in the 2021 Expansion Draft. He had 55 points (nine goals, 46 assists) in 233 games with the Kraken, and has 58 points (10 goals, 48 assists) in 264 NHL games.
Now, he'll have to prove he's worth more than just a $.41 million deal by helping lead the Rangers to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Borgen has played on the Rangers' 2nd-pairing this season, and his last partner during morning skate today was Matthew Robertson.
Previously on NY Rangers Insider
