Will Borgen

William "Will" Borgen (born December 19, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth round, 92nd overall, of the 2015 NHL entry draft.

Growing up in Moorhead, Minnesota, Borgen began his hockey career with Moorhead High School. Following his third year with the team, Borgen joined the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League. Borgen then opted to join St. Cloud State University of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, where he played for the better part of three years. While Borgen was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, he only joined the organization in 2017, after his third year with St. Cloud, playing with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. He made his NHL debut with Buffalo in 2019, the team for which he would play for until 2021, when he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft. Midway through his fourth year with Seattle, Borgen was traded to the New York Rangers for Kaapo Kakko, along with draft picks.

Internationally, Borgen has represented the United States at the 2016 World Junior Championships. He was named to the roster for the 2018 Winter Olympics, but he did not see any ice time.

For the first three years of his hockey career, Borgen played with Moorhead High School in Minnesota, competing in the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). In 2013, he and Moorhead went to the MHSHL Tournament. On March 22, 2014, during the 2013–14 season, a skate blade clipped Borgen's neck, cutting through some neck muscle, but stopping just short of his carotid artery. Borgen ended his first two seasons with Moorhead totaling 12 goals, 32 assists, and 61 penalty minutes through 57 regular season and playoff games.

During the 2014–15 season, with Moorhead through the regular season and playoffs, he collected 28 points and 70 penalty minutes through 27 games. Borgen then joined the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) to complete the 2014–15 season. He played 21 games with the Lancers, notching one goal and seven assists for eight points. He was ranked 114th overall in the NHL Bureau of Central Scouting's North American skater rankings. Borgen was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL entry draft, in the fourth round, 92nd overall.

Following his time with the Lancers, Borgen began his collegiate career with the St. Cloud State Huskies of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). During the 2015–16 season, his freshman season at St. Cloud State, Borgen recorded his first collegiate point, an assist, in a game against Miami University on October 30. He later recorded his first collegiate goal against Western Michigan University. In the end, he recorded 11 assists through 22 games, leading all NCHC freshman defensemen. As a result, he was selected to the NCHC All-Rookie team.

In a game during the 2016–17 season, Borgen, while arguing a call, shoved a referee, causing him to gain a two-game suspension. That season, he notched two goals and 10 assists with 60 penalty minutes through 33 games. Partway through the 2017–18 season, Borgen had recorded two goals and 12 assists for a career-high and team-leading 14 points to become the NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year, as well as an All-NCHC Team Honorable Mention. He ended the season with one more assist, for 13 total.

After his junior season with the Huskies, Borgen was signed to a three year, entry-level contract by the Buffalo Sabres on March 25, 2018. Until the beginning of his contract the next season, Borgen was assigned to the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans, and he signed an amateur tryout agreement with the team. During the 2017–18 season, Borgen only played eight games with Rochester. During the 2018–19 season, in Rochester, Borgen tallied three goals and 11 assists for 14 points through 71 games. Near the end of the season, on March 26, 2019, Borgen made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators. Borgen's call-up to the NHL that season would let him play four games. During the 2019–20 season, Borgen notched only one goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 61 games. During the 2020–21 season, Borgen played 10 games with Buffalo, totaling 30 hits and 14 blocked shots.