Rangers' Defensive Stalwart Borgen Shines Beyond the Scoresheet

As of November 12th, 2025, defenseman Will Borgen has been a key contributor to the New York Rangers' stifling defensive unit this season. While his offensive numbers may not jump off the page, with only two assists in 17 games, Borgen's impact goes far beyond goals and assists.

The Rangers are counting on Borgen, 28, for his defensive prowess, and he has delivered. Borgen is averaging a career-high 18:39 of ice time per game, and according to colleague Dom Luszczyszyn's Net Rating model, he has the best defensive rating in the league at plus-4.2. This puts him ahead of defensemen like Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Borgen's defensive excellence has been a key factor in the Rangers' dramatic turnaround on that side of the puck. Last season, the team ranked 27th in the league in five-on-five expected goals against, but this year they lead the league in that metric. Head coach Mike Sullivan has praised Borgen's "competitive" and "abrasive" style of play, which makes the Rangers "a whole lot more difficult to play against."

The Rangers' decision to acquire Borgen from the Seattle Kraken last December and quickly extend him for five years at a $4.1 million average annual value is already paying dividends. Borgen has formed a strong partnership with former Kraken teammate Carson Soucy, and the duo has helped the Rangers outperform their opponents when on the ice together.