MTPS: Could There Be Something Bruin with Borgen?

Last year the Boston Bruins entered the season looking to take "the next step." They were coming off a season that saw them record 109 points and finish second in the Atlantic Division. Not content with their second round exit, general manager Don Sweeney allowed Jake DeBrusk to walk while replacing him with All-Star center Elias Lindholm up front, and "The Incredible Bulk" that is defenseman Nikita Zadorov to add to a formidable defensive group. Netminder Jeremy Swayman looked like the real deal and they received strong years from role players like Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic, and Pavel Zacha. There was unbridled optimism in Bean Town.

To say things went sideways is like saying that Nick Cannon has a busy Father's Day.

By this time last year, Sweeney was coming to grips with the reality of his team's situation and preparing to ship off players to contenders for young players and draft picks. (Sound familiar?) His plan (mostly) worked. Trades of Charlie Coyle, Brad Marchand, Trent Frederic, and Brandon Carlo brought back young, perpetually disappointing center Casey Mittelstadt, Fraser Minten, prospect Will Zellers, a host of draft capital, and salary cap space. Currently, the Bruins hold a slight edge over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers for the second Wild Card and are looking to make additions that will help them hold onto that spot.

The Bruins are looking to add to their defensive core, but weren't willing to part with assets unless they knew they could control Rasmus Andersson long-term. When Andersson and the team weren't able to come to terms on an extension, the Calgary Flames pivoted to an offer from the Vegas Golden Knights, who unsurprisingly had no such qualms.

While I'm sure you're finding this fascinating, you're probably also rightly asking what the heck this has to do with Will Borgen and the New York Rangers. Well, I'm getting to that.

Boston isn't giving up on adding defense.

Will Borgen is not Rasmus Andersson. And, quite frankly, he's not the same as a healthy and effective Dougie Hamilton. They are all effective players, but in very different ways.

While Andersson and Hamilton (when healthy) bring a lot more offense to the table, Borgen is a reliable defensive player who isn't going to make mistakes, making him a very solid partner for Hampus Lindholm or Nikita Zadorov. Borgen's contract currently calls for him to make $4.1 million per year for the next four years (less than what Andersson costs this year and far less than what his next contract will pay him annually), meaning that Sweeney can rest easy knowing that his top four defenders are locked up at reasonable salaries for the next several years.

Would I rather have Borgen at those numbers than an older, oft-injured Dougie Hamilton at $9 million per year for the next two years? Why, yes. Yes I would.

So, what could the Rangers look for in return for Borgen?

The return for Andersson from Las Vegas was pretty significant. Zach Whitecloud was included as much to offset salary as anything else. But he's also a very good player in his own right, and if things go well for Vegas, Calgary could receive as many as two first round picks—all to rent Rasmus Andersson.

Now, before we get ahead of ourselves, remember what I said above: Will Borgen is not Rasmus Andersson. While the extra years of control are great, Andersson's intrinsic value is greater than Borgen's. A better comp for Borgen's value could be former Bruin and current Toronto Maple Leaf Brandon Carlo.

Borgen is a better player now than Carlo was then and Boston's return for Carlo was Fraser Minten, a fourth round pick in 2025 and a top-five protected first round pick in 2026. To help facilitate the deal, Boston absorbed 15 percent of Carlo's contract through the end of the 2026-27 season.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Chip, will you please hurry up and get to the good stuff?!?"

OK, here we go: