Rangers’ Borgen-Soucy pairing: a steady defensive backbone

The New York Rangers made substantial changes to their defensive structure following a disappointing 2024-25 season, acquiring several key pieces through midseason trades and offseason moves. Among these acquisitions, the pairing of Will Borgen and Carson Soucy has emerged as a quietly effective solution to the team’s defensive woes. Both defensemen arrived in Manhattan with something to prove after difficult stretches with their previous teams, and their reunion—they previously played together in Seattle—has provided the Rangers with the physical, stay-at-home presence they desperately needed on their second pairing.

The duo’s success hasn’t generated headlines or highlight-reel plays, but their steady, dependable approach has been instrumental in the Rangers’ defensive turnaround this season. As the team looks to compete in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division, the performance of this New York Rangers defensive pairing Will Borgen and Carson Soucy has become a critical element in head coach Mike Sullivan’s restructured blue line.

Will Borgen’s journey to becoming a Rangers cornerstone

Will Borgen’s path to becoming a dependable piece of the Rangers’ defense has been anything but straightforward. After establishing himself as a reliable third-pairing defenseman with the Seattle Kraken during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, Borgen hit a rough patch early in the 2024-25 campaign. In 33 games with Seattle, he managed just two points and posted a team-worst minus-13 rating while seeing his ice time dwindle to 15:12 per game.

The trade to New York in exchange for struggling winger Kaapo Kakko represented a fresh start for both player and organization. The Hockey Writers reported that after the trade, Borgen was initially paired with K’Andre Miller on the second defensive unit, where he quickly found his footing. His defensive play stabilized immediately, and he even contributed offensively, racking up four goals and nine assists in 51 games while posting a plus-9 rating and averaging 18:18 of ice time.

The Rangers’ confidence in Borgen’s abilities was reflected in the five-year, $20.5 million extension they awarded him, signaling their belief that his struggles in Seattle were an aberration rather than a decline. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Borgen brings the physical presence and defensive awareness that modern NHL teams covet. His ability to use his reach and strength to disrupt opposing forwards, combined with smart positioning and decision-making with the puck, has made him an invaluable asset.

This season, Borgen has continued his strong play alongside Soucy. He’s become a fixture on the penalty kill and has demonstrated improved offensive instincts, including a goal in the Rangers’ 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay Lightning on November 12, where he stepped up in the offensive zone and fired home a wrist shot. Through 18 games, his statistics—one goal, two assists, and a plus-4 rating while averaging 18:43 per game—don’t fully capture his impact on the team’s defensive structure.

Carson Soucy’s steady presence on the Rangers blue line

Carson Soucy’s NHL career has been defined by consistency and defensive reliability, qualities that don’t always translate to flashy statistics but are invaluable to winning teams. The Viking, Alberta native spent his early career with the Minnesota Wild before joining the Seattle Kraken, where he established himself as a dependable defensive defenseman capable of playing in various situations. His two seasons in Vancouver produced modest offensive numbers—just five goals and 11 assists in 99 games—but his true value lay in his defensive zone work and penalty-killing abilities.

When the Rangers acquired Soucy from the Canucks just before the trade deadline last season, they were looking for defensive stability after a nightmarish campaign on the blue line. Initially, Soucy found himself in an unusual role, spending time alongside superstar Adam Fox on the top pairing. While he made some uncharacteristic mistakes at even strength, his penalty-killing remained stellar, and he finished with one goal, two assists, and a plus-2 rating in 16 games with New York.

The 2025-26 season has seen Soucy settle into a more natural role alongside Borgen on the second pairing, and the results have been impressive. According to Edge Hockey News, the Soucy-Borgen tandem represents “a throwback to a bygone era of stay-at-home, defensive defensemen” who “won’t wow you with highlight-reel plays, but they will grind down opponents, block shots, and clear the front of the net.”

Soucy’s physical style of play was on full display in the victory over Tampa Bay, where he delivered a clean hit on Brandon Hagel, took possession of the puck, and assisted on an Alexis Lafreniere goal. At 6-foot-5 and 211 pounds, he uses his size effectively to clear the crease and establish defensive zone dominance. Through 14 games this season, he’s recorded one goal, two assists, and a plus-5 rating while averaging 17:05 per game—numbers that, like Borgen’s, underscore his defensive focus rather than offensive production.

The chemistry that makes this pairing work

The effectiveness of the New York Rangers defensive pairing Will Borgen and Carson Soucy stems largely from their previous experience playing together in Seattle and their complementary skill sets. Both defensemen are right-handed shots who excel in the defensive zone, communicate effectively, and share a similar hockey philosophy centered on responsible, structured play.

Their familiarity with each other’s tendencies eliminates the adjustment period that often plagues newly formed pairings. As the New York Post reported, Borgen expressed comfort with the pairing, stating: “Yeah, we’re very comfortable [together]. Played with him in Seattle a little bit. We were good buddies. And, yeah, it’s nice to have him here. Very comfortable playing with him, and nice to have him off the ice here too.”

This off-ice friendship translates to on-ice chemistry, as both players understand their roles and responsibilities within the pairing. Borgen typically takes on more of the puck-moving responsibilities while Soucy focuses on physical play and crease clearance, though both are capable of stepping into either role as needed. Their combined size and reach make them particularly effective at disrupting passing lanes and blocking shots, two crucial elements of Mike Sullivan’s defensive system.

Neither player is known for generating offense from the back end, but that’s not their job. Instead, they excel at defending the rush, boxing out opposing forwards, and making crisp, efficient breakout passes to transition play. In an era where many teams prioritize puck-moving defensemen who can join the rush, the Rangers have found value in a more traditional defensive pairing that prioritizes preventing goals over creating them.

Impact on the Rangers’ defensive transformation

The Rangers’ defensive transformation from last season’s “nightmarish” campaign to this year’s improved structure has been one of the most significant storylines of their season. While the top pairing of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov receives much of the attention, the steady play of the New York Rangers defensive pairing Will Borgen and Carson Soucy has been equally important to the team’s success.

The team’s defensive metrics have improved dramatically across the board. Through 18 games, the Rangers have demonstrated a much better defensive structure than they did last season, limiting high-danger scoring chances and providing more consistent support for their goaltenders. The second pairing has been particularly effective on the penalty kill, where both Borgen and Soucy have become key contributors.

Mike Sullivan’s defensive system emphasizes structure, gap control, and defensive zone responsibility—all areas where Borgen and Soucy excel. Their ability to consistently execute the system’s principles without freelancing or taking unnecessary risks has helped establish a defensive identity that was sorely lacking in previous seasons. When the Rangers need to protect a lead or weather a difficult stretch, Sullivan can deploy this pairing with confidence that they will make the smart, safe play.

The pairing’s effectiveness has also had a ripple effect throughout the lineup. With Fox and Gavrikov handling the top competition and Borgen-Soucy providing reliable second-pairing minutes, the third pairing of Braden Schneider and Urho Vaakanainen faces less pressure and can focus on their own development. This balanced distribution of responsibilities has created a more cohesive defensive unit than the Rangers have had in recent memory.

Looking ahead: sustainability and playoff implications

As the season progresses, the sustainability of the New York Rangers defensive pairing Will Borgen and Carson Soucy’s performance will be crucial to the team’s playoff aspirations. Both players have demonstrated the ability to play heavy minutes in difficult situations, but maintaining that level of play over an 82-game season and into the playoffs presents a different challenge.

One concern is offensive production. While neither player is expected to be a significant offensive contributor, the pairing’s combined output of four points through 32 combined games is modest even by defensive defenseman standards. If the Rangers’ offense experiences dry spells, the lack of offensive contribution from the second pairing could become more problematic. However, given the offensive talent elsewhere in the lineup and the pairing’s defensive reliability, this trade-off appears acceptable.

Another consideration is injury and fatigue. Both Borgen and Soucy play a physical style that takes a toll over the course of a season. Soucy has already missed four games with an upper-body injury, though he returned to continue his strong play. The Rangers’ depth on defense will be tested if either player suffers a more significant injury, as replicating their physical presence and defensive acumen would be difficult.

The true test of this pairing will come in the playoffs, where defensive zone play becomes even more critical and physical play intensifies. Both players have playoff experience, but neither has been a key contributor on a deep playoff run. Their ability to raise their game when the stakes are highest will likely determine whether the Rangers can make a legitimate Stanley Cup run or fall short once again.

The Rangers’ investment in both players—particularly the five-year extension for Borgen—indicates organizational confidence that this pairing can be a cornerstone of the defense for years to come. If they continue to develop chemistry and maintain their current level of play, the New York Rangers defensive pairing Will Borgen and Carson Soucy could prove to be one of the shrewdest acquisitions of general manager Chris Drury’s tenure. Their quiet effectiveness may not generate the same attention as Fox’s offensive brilliance or Gavrikov’s shutdown abilities, but in today’s NHL, winning teams need defensemen who can do the unglamorous work in their own zone—and that’s exactly what this pairing delivers night after night.