Rangers sign Will Borgen to 5-year contract

Will Borgen clearly made a fast positive impression on the New York Rangers. Five weeks after being acquired from the Seattle Kraken in a trade involving Kaapo Kakko, Borgen agreed to a five-year contract with the Rangers on Saturday. It is reportedly worth $4.1 million annually. Puckpedia reports that Borgen has a minimal no-trade clause in his contract.
The 28-year-old defenseman could have become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. When the Rangers picked him up on Dec. 18, they were mired in a miserable stretch that extended to 4-15-0, and there was talk that they might flip Borgen ahead of the NHL trade deadline if their season didn’t turn around.
Well, the Rangers season has turned around. They’re 8-1-3 since the New Year and on a 10-game point streak (7-0-3) heading into a Sunday matinee against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden. Entering Saturday, the Rangers are one point out of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
Borgen has been a big part of getting the Rangers back on track. He’s help solidify the defense corps with his steady play. Borgen’s formed a solid second pairing with K’Andre Miller, who had major struggles this season before his new partner’s arrival.
“It’s great. ‘Key’s’ a great player all over the ice, it’s easy. Communicates really well, makes nice plays, keeps it simple,” Borgen said a few days ago about his on-ice rapport with Miller.
In essence, Borgen took over the on-ice role of former captain Jacob Trouba, who was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during New York’s freefall. Borgen is a physical defenseman who clears the crease and plays with an edge.
In 17 games since the trade, Borgen has one goal and three points. He is averaging 18:35 TOI, three minutes more per game than he did in 33 contests with the Kraken this season.
Saturday morning, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette praised Borgen and fellow newcomer Urho Vaakanainen, saying they’ve “helped quiet things down a little bit.”
Related: Rangers have major decisions to make on defensemen before, after NHL trade deadline
Will Borgen fits in quickly with Rangers, lands 5-year contract

The right side of the Rangers defense corps seems set for the foreseeable future. Adam Fox, their top defenseman, is signed through 2027-28; Borgen has his deal through 2029-30; and Braden Schneider is under contract for another season and then becomes a restricted free agent — the 23-year-old is not going anywhere.
Schneider could flip to his off side next season if the Rangers, as expected, do not re-sign pending unrestricted free agent Ryan Lindgren, a left shot. Schneider played some on the left side this season and performed well. The Rangers also have right-shot Victor Mancini, currently playing with Hartford in the American Hockey League.
But it’s clear the Borgen, a seven-year pro who was a fourth-round pick (No. 92 overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, made a terrific impression on the Rangers right away, for them to aggressively sign him to a long-term deal already.
But how did he adapt so quickly with the Rangers?
“It’s good now., It was a lot to take in right away, living in New York and getting my stuff from Seattle,” he explained. “It took a little bit, but now I’m settled.”
A top-four defenseman with the Kraken the past two seasons, including 2022-23 when they made the playoffs in their second season, Borgen dropped to the third pair this season. His TOI dropped two minutes and his play dipped considerably.
Then the Rangers rescued him and, in a sense, he helped rescue them. Now they’re partners for the next five seasons.
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