The Toronto Maple Leafs Blue-Line features a rookie who isn’t getting his due.
I’m talking of course about Andreas Borgman. When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Borgman and Calle Rosen this past summer, no one was sure what to make of them. Prevailing consensus seemed to be that neither was ready for a regular shift in the NHL. They both, however, made the team out of camp and Borgman, at least, has played a regular shift all year.
For the second year in a row, the Leafs managed to add to their blue-line by signing a European UFA. Last year it was Nikita Zaitsev, and this year it is Borgman. And to be fair, I should mention that Calle Rosen has acquitted himself very well during his limited in the NHL too.
More from Editor In Leaf
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
- Ryan Reaves Will Have Zero Impact on Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Playing Max Domi In Top-Six a HUGE Mistake
- Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Results from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament
Andreas Borgman
Andreas Borgman is a 22 year-old left-shooting defenseman. He has two goals and four assists in 23 games so far this season. He has played in all but two games.
Borgman is fifth overall in total ice-time on the Leafs blue-line, and seems to have passed Connor Carrick for fifth on the depth chart. (In terms of ice-time, this is true. In terms of production and contribution, not so much).
He averages 14:02 of ice time per game. This ice time is predominantly even-strength, as he has seen very limited special-teams time.
Borgman is second among Leafs blue-liners in possession rating, with the team getting an impressive 51.15% of the shots while he’s on the ice. Though he doesn’t play the toughest minutes, he is always effective when on the ice.
Though he isn’t used in tough minutes or on special teams, Borgman has become a bit of a fan favorite in Toronto due to being one of the only players on the team who is physical. He’ll throw down on some big hits and keep the puck moving in the right direction.
Borgman is not overly big, but he plays like he is. He plays the majority of his time with Connor Carrick (who is very underrated). Together they form a decent enough duo, but Borgman does drop significantly when not on the ice with Carrick, suggesting that at this point it’s Carrick who is carrying him a bit.
Next: How the Leafs Can Learn from the Oilers
Still, no shame in that. He’s a rookie after-all, and he’s playing very well, while offering the Leafs a hybrid puck-mover-who-is-physical. In Borgman it looks like the Leafs have unearthed another undrafted gen, just like Zaitsev. Slowly but surely, the Toronto Maple Leafs are building a solid blue-line. If players like Borgman, Rosen and Carrick continue their positive development, the Leafs may not have to burn assets to improve their defense after-all.