Through the first 27 games of the 2025-26 season, the New York Rangers have been a bit of a paradox. The offense has sputtered at times, but what’s flown under the radar is the team’s defensive turnaround - and that’s no accident.
Under new head coach Mike Sullivan, the Blueshirts have embraced a more disciplined, structured approach in their own zone. And it’s working.
Sullivan’s system emphasizes shot suppression and limiting high-danger chances - the kind of foundational defense that doesn't always show up on highlight reels but wins games over an 82-game grind. And while team buy-in is critical, two players in particular are driving that transformation: Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Borgen.
They’re not flashy. They’re not going to top jersey sales. But night after night, they’re the guys helping Igor Shesterkin sleep a little easier.
Vladislav Gavrikov: The Steadying Force the Rangers Needed
When the Rangers signed Gavrikov this summer to a seven-year, $49 million deal, they weren’t looking for offensive fireworks. They were looking for stability - a defensive anchor to pair with Adam Fox and allow the 2021 Norris Trophy winner to get back to dictating play with the puck. So far, Gavrikov has delivered exactly that, and then some.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound blueliner has brought the same shutdown presence he showed in Los Angeles, and the numbers back it up. Through 27 games, Gavrikov has posted a 56.4% expected goal share at 5-on-5, with the Rangers out-chancing opponents 246-190 when he’s on the ice, per Natural Stat Trick. That’s not just solid - that’s elite territory for a defenseman tasked with top-pair minutes.
And while some wondered if his strong numbers in L.A. were more a product of the Kings’ famously stingy system, Gavrikov is proving he was a key reason for that success - not just a passenger. The Kings are still a top-tier defensive team, ranking fourth in the NHL at 2.60 goals allowed per game.
But the Rangers, who gave up 3.11 goals per game last season (19th in the league), have slashed that number to 2.63 - sixth-best in the NHL. That’s a massive leap, and Gavrikov’s fingerprints are all over it.
His chemistry with Fox has been immediate and impactful. Together, they’ve posted a 59.9% expected goal share.
And when Fox is paired with Gavrikov, that number jumps to a staggering 67.3%. That’s dominance.
But Gavrikov hasn’t just been a defensive workhorse. He’s chipped in on the scoresheet too - four goals and seven assists so far, including a goal and an assist in a tight 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth and two primary helpers in a comeback win over the St.
Louis Blues. He also found the back of the net in the Rangers’ 6-2 rout of the Boston Bruins.
Considering he tallied 53 points over the past two seasons, this level of offensive contribution shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Now, with Fox sidelined due to an upper-body injury - reportedly a left shoulder issue - Gavrikov’s role becomes even more critical. Fox is on long-term injured reserve and will miss at least 10 games and 24 days.
That’s a massive hole in the lineup, especially for a team still searching for offensive consistency. Gavrikov will likely be paired with Braden Schneider in the interim, and the Rangers will need him to be the calming, stabilizing presence that allows the rest of the blue line to stay afloat.
Will Borgen: Quietly Becoming a Key Piece
While Gavrikov was the big offseason splash, Will Borgen’s emergence might be just as important to the Rangers’ defensive resurgence.
Acquired last December from the Seattle Kraken in the Kaapo Kakko trade, Borgen brought a physical edge and a steadying presence that immediately helped settle down then-partner K’Andre Miller. The Rangers saw enough to lock him up with a five-year, $20.5 million extension in January - and right now, that deal looks like a bargain.
In his first full season on Broadway, Borgen is posting career-best numbers. He’s logged a 51.5% expected goal share in 20 games, with the Rangers holding a 143-129 edge in scoring chances and a 68-46 advantage in high-danger opportunities when he’s on the ice. Those are strong numbers for a second-pair defenseman, especially one asked to do a lot of the dirty work.
Injuries have been a recent issue - Borgen missed seven of eight games with an upper-body injury before returning against Tampa Bay. That return was rocky, with the Rangers getting out-chanced 17-8 during his 5-on-5 minutes, but it was a rough night across the board against a Lightning team that had their number.
Still, the Rangers need a healthy Borgen - especially given his pairing with Carson Soucy. Soucy’s play with the puck has been inconsistent, and it’s Borgen who’s largely held that duo together.
The numbers tell the story: Borgen’s expected goal share without Soucy is 57.3%. Soucy’s without Borgen?
Just 44.7%. That’s a dramatic swing, and it underscores Borgen’s value as the glue guy on that pair.
Beyond the Top Pair: Questions Still Linger
While Gavrikov and Borgen have been rocks on the back end, the rest of the blue line is still a work in progress.
Braden Schneider, now in his fifth NHL season, hasn’t quite taken the step forward the Rangers hoped for. His 44.0% expected goal share is right in line with his career average - not disastrous, but not the kind of impact you want from a former first-round pick.
Urho Vaakanainen has been in and out of the lineup and sits at 46.7% expected goal share. Rookie Matthew Robertson has shown flashes but is still finding his NHL footing, posting a 44.3% mark through 18 games. The growing pains are real.
Carson Soucy, as mentioned, has been an adventure, and his puck management continues to be a concern. That puts even more pressure on Borgen to steady that pairing, especially with Fox out of the picture for the time being.
The Bottom Line: Defense Is Driving the Rangers’ Identity
There’s no question that Mike Sullivan’s system has played a major role in the Rangers’ defensive turnaround. But systems are only as good as the players executing them, and right now, Gavrikov and Borgen are leading the charge.
They’re not just filling roles - they’re defining them. Gavrikov is anchoring the top pair and holding things together while Fox recovers. Borgen, when healthy, is quietly becoming one of the most reliable second-pair defensemen in the league.
For a Rangers team still trying to unlock its offensive potential, that kind of stability on the back end is invaluable. And if the defense continues to hold the line like this, it might just give the Blueshirts the breathing room they need to figure things out up front.
In a season where not everything has gone according to plan, the Rangers’ blue line - led by Gavrikov and Borgen - is starting to look like the foundation of something sustainable.