The Sabres have made the Will Borgen signing official.
Here is the team media release:
The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Will Borgen to a three-year, entry-level contract. Borgen will sign an ATO and report to the Rochester Americans (AHL). The entry-level contract will begin starting with the 2018-19 season.
Borgen (6’2…, 188 lbs., 12/19/1996) recently completed his NCAA career with St. Cloud State, collecting 41 points (5+36) in 106 games. The native of Moorhead, Minnesota was named the National College Hockey Conference’s Defensive Defenseman of the Year this season.
Borgen was one of four collegiate players to be named to the 2018 United States Olympic Men’s Hockey Team. The defenseman also captured a bronze medal with the U.S. team at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Sabres selected Borgen in the fourth round (92nd overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
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According to hockey buzz on Twitter, St. Cloud State defenseman Will Borgen and his teammate and fellow Sabres forward prospect Judd Peterson will be wearing Rochester Amerks sweater for the AHL playoffs.
The Amerks earned their entry into the AHL postseason on Saturday night.
BREAKING: Will Borgen has put ink to paper and has signed with the Buffalo Sabres. He reports to a playoff clinched Rochester Americans tomorrow. Please credit @shawndanielson4
— Shawn Danielson (@shawndanielson4) March 25, 2018
Can confirm. Per the man himself @wborgen19 https://t.co/lPX9ER8mt0
— Reg Rappaport (@BradyRegimbal) March 25, 2018
CLINCHED 👊🼠pic.twitter.com/2TfQZ23KSE
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) March 25, 2018
I can confirm an earlier report of former @Spud_Hockey & St Cloud State defenseman Will Borgen has signed with the @BuffaloSabres
— Alex Egan (@AlexEganTV) March 25, 2018
Borgen leaves SCSU after 3 seasons.
Botterill has guided the Amerks to the AHL playoffs.
He has reportedly signed Borgen and Peterson to their NHL entry level contracts.
Borgen and fellow Amerks prospect Judd Peterson had their hopes dashed when their #1 seeded St. Cloud State team was eliminated by #16 Air Force at the NCAA Mens College Hockey tourney on Friday.
The defeat was the Huskies second-straight in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and just the second time in tournament history that a #16 team eliminated the top overall seed.
The Rochester Amerks sure could use another smart, mobile, tough defensive defenseman like Borgen right now.
Borgen was a fourth round draft choice of pick of the Sabres in the 2015 NHL Draft. Borgen scored five goals and 33 assists in 96 career NCAA games.
Borgen, who just completed his junior season for the Huskies, was one of four college players to represent Team USA at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Though he didn't play in any games at the Olympics, Borgen certainly benefitted from a growth and development standpoint by practicing with Team USA.
The 21-year-old Minnesota native is 6'2", 190 lb. defenseman previously represented his country at the World Juniors in 2016, notching three assists in seven games en route to a bronze medal finish.
Sabres forward prospect Judd Peterson is also senior on the St. Cloud State squad.
Peterson just completed his season season at St. Cloud State.
Adding three dynamic hockey players to an already impressive collection of prospects in Rochester will only serve to strengthen a formidable Amerks team.
When the Buffalo Sabres regular season ends, youngsters Nick Baptiste, Brendan Guhle, Justin Bailey, Evan Rodrigues and Casey Nelson will be sent down to Rochester.
Botterill is also trying his dead level best to add IIHF World Juniors MVP and Sabres' #1 propsect Casey Mittelstadt signed to an amateur tryout contract to play for the Amerks during their playoff run.
@reporterchris says there is "pressure" on @CMittelstadt to return to Minnesota for next season. By whom? Will Bob Motzko be his head coach? Mike Guentzel? The kid is in the drivers seat. Lucia recruited Mittselstadt. Lucia is gone. The kid has leverage and should use it wisely
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) March 25, 2018
Mitttelstadt has to do what is best for his development. Not whats best for Minnesota Gophers.
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) March 25, 2018
More to come....