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Toronto Maple Leafs Seeking Right Shot Defenseman with Edge

By Jeremy Ridgewell

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: General manager Brad Treliving of the Toronto Maple Leafs is seen prior to round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: General manager Brad Treliving of the Toronto Maple Leafs is seen prior to round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Will Borgen

The Toronto Maple Leafs got a good look at Will Borgen on November 30th, when the Leafs managed to beat the Seattle Kraken in a shootout.

Borgen is a soon-to-be 27-year-old right-shooting defenseman from Moorhead, Minnesota, USA.

Borgen is a 4th round draft pick (92nd overall) of the Buffalo Sabres from the 2015 draft.

He was claimed by the Kraken during the 2021 NHL expansion draft. He is 6’3, 204 Lbs, and was a hitting machine for the Kraken last season. Borgen finished the 2022-23 season with three goals and 17 assists for 20 points in 82 games. He registered 89 blocked shots and 203 hits while averaging 16:22 minutes of ice time.

Like Peeke, Borgen has a small enough salary cap hit that the Leafs can manage. His contract is for $2.7 million this season and next. The Leafs wouldn’t need the Kraken to retain any salary, which makes Borgen easier to acquire. His ability to play 16 to 20 minutes a game is beneficial to the Leafs with all the injuries they’ve had.

A bonus for the Leafs acquiring Borgen would be the physical presence he brought during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. In 14 playoff games, he averaged 17:41 minutes of ice time and registered 18 blocked shots and 33 hits.

It’s an element that the Leafs do not have enough of that is needed come playoff time.

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