Kraken Defenseman Will Borgen Re-Ups For Two Years, $5.4 Million

Seattle Also Signs FA Penalty-Killing Specialist Pierre-Edouard Bellemare

Kraken defenseman Will Borgen blossomed in 2022-23. Now his bank account has done the same.

Borgen, a restricted free agent, signed a two year, $5.4 million contract to remain with Seattle. It's a reward for a breakout season, when the 6-foot-3, 204 pound blueliner played all 82 regular season games, and all 14 in the postseason, too.

Borgen and 6-foot-7 partner Jamie Oleksiak established themselves as an imposing roadblock for opposing offenses. He averaged 16:22 time on ice, dishing out 203 hits.

The $2.7 annual cap hit may seem a touch pricey now. Given Borgen's newfound upside, it might be a bargain by the time he has the chance to test unrestricted free agency in two years. Also, the figure might be lower than the team would have faced had the two sides gone to arbitration.

This represents quite a turnaround from Borgen's, and the team's, inaugural season, after GM Ron Francis picked him from Buffalo in the expansion draft. The 26-year- old Borgen had trouble cracking the lineup prior to the trade of defenseman and team captain Mark Giordano in March, 2022. He played in just 36 games that season.

With development camp having just concluded, Borgen serves as a reminder that you don't have to be a high draft pick to make an impact in the NHL. Borgen was originally selected by the Sabres in the 4th round, 92nd overall in 2015.

Seattle's other roster move was signing free agent left wing Pierre-Édouard Bellemare to a one year, $775,000 contract. He should shore up two areas of Kraken weakness last season.

Seattle finished 31st in faceoffs, winning just 45% of draws. Last season with the Lightning, Bellemare won 52%. Two years earlier, while playing with the Avalanche, he won 61% of faceoffs. Bellemare is a key penalty killer, another area in which Seattle has been below league average.

For what it's worth, Bellemare is also the most enjoyable visiting player I've spoken with in two season on the Kraken beat. Here's excerpts of a column I wrote for The Fischler Report, after Bellemare led a Lightning victory at Climate Pledge Arena.

One of Tampa's heroes in snapping Seattle's eight-game winning streak on Monday was unheralded fourth-line center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. "From now on, this is money time," Pierre-Edouard said afterward. "In the season and playoffs, you have to have everybody help the team at times."

Last month, Bellemare played his 608th game, a record among the dozen-ever NHLers born in France. Only seven currently active NHL players are older than the native of Le Blanc-Mesnil. He didn't even break into the NHL until the age of 29 with the Flyers.

Editor's Notes: 

Bellemare, one of Tampa's top penalty-killers, said getting lots of help is the key. "Keeping the shifts short," he said. "That keeps your legs fresh and your confidence up. It's important not just to kill it, but to frustrate the power play, so they force it when they shouldn't. Then you know you have them on the ropes."

Although Bellemare alertly broke up a third-period 3-on-2 with Seattle looking for the tie, he insisted it was a high-risk, if necessary, play. "I put my body in the way. Lucky enough, (the puck) went right into my mitt." What if he'd whiffed? "I'd be f'd," he said with a smile.

Tampa defenseman Ian Cole knows better. "The fourth line can really drive play in the offensive zone. 'Belley' works his tail off." Added Lightning coach Jon Cooper: "Depth helps you win games. When (Kucherov and Stamkos) aren't getting points, you need somebody like 'Belley' to get it for you."

For his part, Bellemare remains modest to a fault. When I asked about his technique on a high-skill, deft deflection for Tampa's first goal against Seattle, he made another deflection. "I'm not that good at doing that," he said.

As our interview ended, I kidded Bellemare that if he ever "got good," to go along with his supposed luck, he'd become an outstanding player. "I know, right?" he answered. "But I might be 50 years old by then!"

Lightning opponents only wish that were true.