Elliotte Friedman raised an interesting point about the New York Rangers’ decision to extend Will Borgen, suggesting that the 28-year-old defenseman’s contract could be slightly overpriced. However, he also highlighted the key intangible that makes Borgen so valuable to the Rangers: his positive impact on K’Andre Miller’s game.
Friedman noted that Borgen’s pairing with Miller has significantly enhanced the young defenseman’s performance. He emphasized that Miller has looked his best this season while playing alongside Borgen, and that both the eye test and statistical analysis support this assessment. In particular, Miller and Borgen have a solid xGF of 51.22% in over 240 minutes of ice time together, showcasing their chemistry on the ice.
Prior to Borgen’s arrival, Miller’s performance had been underwhelming when paired with Jacob Trouba and Braden Schneider, leading to struggles in his two-way game and even generating trade rumors. However, since teaming up with Borgen, Miller has looked more composed, and his production has rebounded. This shift has been crucial for the Rangers, who have gone 8-2-3 in January, with Miller playing a significant role in the team’s success.
Friedman believes that the Rangers’ decision to stick with Borgen, instead of pursuing a trade, reflects the team’s ability to solve their problems internally. By finding the right defensive partner for Miller, they may have unlocked a path to greater success, which could justify the investment in Borgen’s contract extension.
Contract numbers ‘probably a little bit high’ but Rangers happy to keep Will Borgen
The New York Rangers’ decision to sign Will Borgen to a five-year, $20.5 million contract extension is an intriguing one, especially considering his steady but unspectacular career up until this point. Friedman’s take is that while the numbers may seem a bit high for a player who doesn’t offer much offensive production, the value lies in how Borgen has helped elevate K’Andre Miller’s play. If the pairing is helping Miller become a more confident, mistake-free player, then the Rangers are willing to make that investment.
Borgen has certainly brought value to the Rangers in his 18 games with the team since the trade, showing a noticeable increase in ice time (averaging 18:31) and contributing offensively with two goals and two assists. His presence on the second defense pair has helped stabilize Miller’s game, which had seen a decline before the pairing. Miller’s numbers (11 points in 43 games) are still below what he’s capable of, but the uptick in his recent play (four points in the last four games) and his improved decision-making on defense suggest that Borgen’s impact has been significant.
Friedman’s point about the rarity and importance of a right-handed defenseman who can gel well with a key young player like Miller is a crucial one. Right-shot defensemen are often harder to find, and if Borgen is the player who can help unlock Miller’s potential, the Rangers are betting that this investment will pay off in the long run, both for Miller’s development and the team’s overall success.
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