Will Borgen Bio
William Borgen, commonly known as Will Borgen, is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenseman for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 204 pounds, Borgen shoots right and has built his reputation as a steady, physical presence on the blue line. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth round, 92nd overall, of the 2015 NHL entry draft, and has since played in the NHL for the Sabres, the Seattle Kraken, and the Rangers. Internationally, Borgen has represented the United States at junior and Olympic levels.
Early Life and Background
Will Borgen was born on December 19, 1996, in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he grew up immersed in the state’s deep hockey culture. He attended Moorhead High School and spent his first three seasons playing for the Spuds in the Minnesota State High School League, developing the defensive fundamentals that would carry him to the professional ranks. In 2013, he helped Moorhead reach the MSHSL Tournament, marking one of his earliest notable accomplishments.
During the 2013–14 season, Borgen suffered a frightening injury when a skate blade clipped his neck, cutting through neck muscle and stopping just short of his carotid artery. He recovered from the scare and returned to the ice, finishing his first two seasons with Moorhead with 12 goals, 32 assists, and 61 penalty minutes across 57 regular season and playoff games. In his third year with Moorhead, he added 28 points and 70 penalty minutes in 27 games, demonstrating the two-way game that scouts had begun to notice.
Path to Hockey
Following his third season at Moorhead High School, Borgen joined the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League for the remainder of the 2014–15 campaign, recording one goal and seven assists in 21 games. The Central Scouting Bureau ranked him 114th among North American skaters ahead of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and the Buffalo Sabres selected him 92nd overall in the fourth round. Borgen then committed to St. Cloud State University of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference to continue his development.
At St. Cloud State, Borgen emerged as one of the top freshman defensemen in the NCHC during 2015–16, recording 11 assists in 22 games and earning a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie Team. He notched his first collegiate goal against Western Michigan University that season. The following year he added two goals and 10 assists before becoming a top defenseman in 2017–18, when he was named the NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year and received All-NCHC Honorable Mention honors while leading Huskies defensemen in scoring with 14 points.
Will Borgen Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After his junior season at St. Cloud State, Borgen signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres on March 25, 2018. He was assigned to the Sabres’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans, where he played eight games during the 2017–18 season and tallied three goals and 11 assists in 71 games the following year. On March 26, 2019, Borgen made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators and went on to play four games with Buffalo that season.
Borgen split time between the NHL and AHL during his first full professional seasons, gradually adjusting to the speed and physicality of the league. In 2019–20, he produced one goal and 10 assists in 61 games for the Sabres. The following shortened 2020–21 campaign saw him appear in 10 games with Buffalo, registering 30 hits and 14 blocked shots while continuing to establish himself as a reliable, stay-at-home defenseman.
Buffalo Sabres Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Borgen’s first sustained NHL action came with the Sabres beginning in 2019, when he earned a regular spot on the blue line. He played 61 games in 2019–20, contributing 11 points and playing a physical style that earned him a steady role on the Buffalo backend. Although the Sabres did not reach the postseason during his time there, Borgen gained valuable NHL experience and continued refining his defensive game.
Seattle Kraken Era (2021–2025)
On July 21, 2021, Borgen was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft, becoming part of the franchise’s inaugural roster. He signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract with Seattle and scored his first NHL goal on January 2, 2022, against the Vancouver Canucks. In his first Kraken campaign, he appeared in 36 games and finished with two goals and six assists.
Borgen’s role grew significantly in 2022–23, when he played all 82 regular-season games and posted career highs at the time with three goals and 17 assists. He added his first NHL playoff goal on April 24, 2023, opening the scoring in a 3–2 overtime victory over the Colorado Avalanche, and he appeared in all 14 of Seattle’s playoff games that spring. On July 7, 2023, the Kraken rewarded his development with a two-year, $5.4 million extension. In 2023–24, Borgen set new career highs with 25 points, including 22 assists, and scored against the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2024 NHL Winter Classic on January 1, 2024.
New York Rangers Era (2024–Present)
On December 18, 2024, the Kraken traded Borgen to the New York Rangers, along with a third-round and a sixth-round pick in 2025, in exchange for Kaapo Kakko. Through 33 games with Seattle that season, he had registered one goal and one assist before the deal. On January 25, 2025, the Rangers signed him to a five-year, $20.5 million contract that runs through the 2029–30 season, signaling his long-term role on the team’s blue line.
With New York in 2024–25, Borgen appeared in 51 games, recording four goals and nine assists for 13 points while totaling 73 hits and 80 blocked shots. He quickly became a fixture on the Rangers’ defense, leaning on his physical, shot-blocking style to log heavy minutes against opposing top lines.
Driving Style and Strengths
Borgen is recognized primarily as a defensive defenseman, valuing positioning, gap control, and physical play over offensive production. He uses his 6-foot-3 frame to win board battles, deliver hits, and block shots, and his right-handed shot has allowed coaches to deploy him in shutdown pairings. His steady penalty-killing presence and willingness to sacrifice his body have made him a trusted option in tight defensive situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Borgen’s career came on April 24, 2023, when he scored his first NHL playoff goal to open a 3–2 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche. He also played in the 2024 NHL Winter Classic, scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights on New Year’s Day, and reached the 100-game NHL milestone on February 7, 2023, in a 4–0 loss to the New York Islanders. His five-year, $20.5 million extension with the Rangers marked the largest contract of his career.
Will Borgen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information regarding Borgen’s immediate family remains limited, and verified details about his parents and siblings are not available. He grew up in Moorhead, Minnesota, a community with a strong hockey tradition, which helped shape his early development. Specific family connections to professional hockey have not been widely documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Borgen resides in the United States and maintains a relatively private personal life away from the rink. No verified public information is currently available regarding a spouse, partner, or children. He is known to be focused on his professional career and continues to balance his NHL schedule with off-ice commitments.
2025 Season Performance
Borgen is in the first season of a five-year contract with the New York Rangers that runs through 2029–30. After joining the Rangers via trade in December 2024 and signing his new deal in January 2025, he has slotted into a regular role on the team’s defense. Through 51 games with New York in 2024–25, he registered four goals and nine assists while logging heavy defensive minutes and contributing 73 hits and 80 blocked shots.
His physical, shot-blocking profile has fit well within the Rangers’ defensive structure, and his right-handed shot has provided useful balance on the back end. With his long-term contract in place, Borgen is expected to remain a key part of New York’s defensive corps for the foreseeable future. The early returns suggest he will continue to anchor penalty-killing units and shutdown pairings as the Rangers pursue postseason success.
