Will Borgen

Will Borgen
Will Borgen fight 10-19-22.jpg
Borgen with the Seattle Kraken in 2022.
Born (1996-12-19) December 19, 1996 (age 28)
Moorhead, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 New York Rangers
Buffalo Sabres
Seattle Kraken
NHL draft 92nd overall, 2015
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2018–present

William Borgen (born December 19, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Early career

Borgen attended Moorhead High School in Minnesota, playing as captain of the team.[1] He would then join the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) to complete the 2014–15 season.

Borgen was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL entry draft, in the fourth round, 92nd overall.[2] He began his collegiate career the following season with St. Cloud State University of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference while majoring in sports management.[3]

Collegiate

Borgen with the St. Cloud State Huskies in 2017.

In his freshman season at St. Cloud State, Borgen recorded his first collegiate point, an assist, in a game against Miami University on October 30.[4] He later recorded his first collegiate goal during the NCHC playoffs against Western Michigan University.[5] In the end, he recorded 11 assists in conference games to lead all NCHC freshman defenseman. As a result, he was selected for the NCHC All-Rookie team.[6]

In his junior year, Borgen recorded a career-high and team-leading, 14 points to earn NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year.[7] He was also named an All-NCHC Honorable Mention.[8]

Professional

At the completion of his junior season with the Huskies in 2017–18, Borgen was signed to an entry-level contract by the Buffalo Sabres on March 25, 2018.[9] He was assigned to join the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans, on an amateur try-out (ATO) agreement to play out the remainder of his contract.[10] He eventually made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on March 26, 2019.[11]

On July 21, 2021, Borgen was selected from the Sabres by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft.[12] Borgen scored his first NHL goal on January 2, 2022, against the Vancouver Canucks.[13] Following the 2022–23 season, Borgen signed a two-year contract with the Kraken.[14]

During the 2024–25 season, on December 18, 2024, Borgen was traded by the Kraken to the New York Rangers along with two draft picks in exchange for Kaapo Kakko.[15]

International play

Borgen was selected to represent the United States junior team at the 2016 World Junior Championships. He contributed with three assists in seven games, as the United States captured the bronze medal.

On January 1, 2018, Borgen was selected to compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 Moorhead High MSHSL 24 3 16 19 22 3 0 1 1 0
2013–14 Moorhead High MSHSL 24 6 10 16 35 3 2 3 5 2
2014–15 Moorhead High MSHSL 24 5 21 26 64 3 1 1 2 6
2014–15 Omaha Lancers USHL 18 1 5 6 0 3 0 0 0 0
2015–16 St. Cloud State NCHC 37 1 13 14 36 — — — — —
2016–17 St. Cloud State NCHC 33 2 10 12 60 — — — — —
2017–18 St. Cloud State NCHC 36 2 13 15 68 — — — — —
2017–18 Rochester Americans AHL 8 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Rochester Americans AHL 71 3 11 14 56 3 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2019–20 Rochester Americans AHL 61 1 10 11 76 — — — — —
2020–21 Buffalo Sabres NHL 10 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2021–22 Seattle Kraken NHL 36 2 6 8 28 — — — — —
2022–23 Seattle Kraken NHL 82 3 17 20 47 14 1 2 3 8
2023–24 Seattle Kraken NHL 82 3 22 25 65 — — — — —
2024–25 Seattle Kraken NHL 33 1 1 2 9 — — — — —
NHL totals 247 9 46 55 153 14 1 2 3 8

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2016 United States WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 0 3 3 2
Junior totals 7 0 3 3 2

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
College
NCHC All-Rookie Team 2016 [6]
NCHC Best Defensive Defenseman 2018 [7]
NCHC Honorable Mention All-Star Team 2018 [8]

References

  1. ^ Pierce, Jessi (April 17, 2023). "The Budding Spud: Will Borgen's Path to the NHL". Minnesota Hockey. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "William Borgen". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  3. ^ "#20 Will Borgen". scsuhuskies.com. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. ^ "#9 St. Cloud State men's hockey at WMU on Nov. 13-14". scsuhuskies.com. November 11, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "#5 St. Cloud State edges Western Michigan 4-3 in OT". scsuhuskies.com. March 11, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "St. Cloud State's Borgen and Schuldt named to NCHC All-Rookie team". scsuhuskies.com. March 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Hatten, Mick (March 15, 2018). "SCSU's Borgen, Motzko receive NCHC awards". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "St. Cloud State's Bob Motzko and Will Borgen earn 2017-18 NCHC awards". scsuhuskies.com. March 15, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  9. ^ "Sabres sign Borgen to entry-level contract". Buffalo Sabres. March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  10. ^ "Two New Amerks: Will Borgen and Judd Peterson". LGA 585. March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "Former Husky Will Borgen makes NHL debut with Buffalo". scsuhuskies.com. March 27, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  12. ^ "Seattle Kraken make their picks". Seattle Kraken. July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  13. ^ "Kraken's Will Borgen: Nets first NHL goal". CBSSports.com. January 2, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Dreyfuss, Glenn (July 8, 2023). "Kraken Defenseman Will Borgen Re-Ups For Two Years, $5.4 Million". The Hockey News. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  15. ^ "Rangers Acquire Defenseman Will Borgen and Two Picks in 2025 NHL Entry Draft". NHL.com. December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "SCSU's Borgen, alumnus Roe named to U.S. Olympic team". SC Times. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year
2017–18 		Succeeded by