2025 Rangers Report Card: Will Cuylle

This post is part of an ongoing series of Rangers Report Cards, grading the performance of each member of the 2024-25 New York Rangers. To view more report cards in this series, go here.

Expectations

After Will Cuylle surprised us all and made the team out of training camp in 2023-24, he displayed signs of becoming a physically dominating player with a goal-scoring touch. In his sophomore campaign, he was expected to build on that initial success by continuing to do what he does best: delivering hard hits and powering through opponents to score goals.

Performance

It's no secret that this year was dreadful for the New York Rangers, but Will Cuylle has been one of the rare bright spots fans could cling to. With increased responsibility and ice time this season, rising from 11:08 in his first year to 15:05 in his second, Cuylle's stats improved in almost every area. In 82 games, he scored 20 goals and 25 assists, ending up tied with Alexis Lafrenière for the fifth most on the team.

Cuylle was trusted in all situations, as he spent some time on the second power play unit and was a frequent flyer on the penalty kill throughout the year. He made contributions in all situations, too, scoring two shorthanded goals and two power-play goals in addition to his 16 even-strength goals. Cuylle understood his assignment and maintained his physical edge game in and game out. According to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, he was the first Ranger to surpass 300 hits since the league began tracking the stat almost twenty years ago, ranking third overall in the league with 301 hits this season. Beyond providing an elevated level of physicality combined with skill that the Rangers rarely had on their roster, many of Cuylle's hits were significant and game-altering.

Despite Cuylle's Corsi being just below even at 48.8 CF%, his effort and 200-foot game were evident in every match. He was a responsible forward and registered a +/- of 12, indicating his impact at 5v5, even when the Blueshirts struggled throughout the year. There were often long stretches in the Rangers' schedule this season when the team appeared lackluster and lethargic. Fans and hockey pundits alike were left frustrated and scratching their heads at the apparent lack of effort from almost the entire roster but not Will Cuylle. His effort persisted through the worst of times, and when nearly every player on the roster had a regressive year, Will Cuylle stepped up and improved his performance and stats. He demonstrated to the NHL that he is a bona fide goal scorer, adapting his shot and the angle of his release to beat goalies consistently. He was no longer just a garbage goal collector rushing to the net. He showcased finesse and skill, making him a threat from far out in the offensive zone as his powerful shot was often on display.

Cuylle's progress and effort continued to be recognized and rewarded as he was rightfully selected as the Steven McDonald Extra Effort recipient for the 2024-25 season. Honestly, no other Ranger deserved this honor even half as much as Cuylle did. The drama and misery surrounding this challenging year seemed to bounce off Cuylle as he skated hard and found ways to contribute in every game.

Grades

Author Grade: A

Banter Consensus: A

Final Evaluation

Cuylle was one of the rare Rangers who handled his business this past season. Nothing slowed him down, and he has proven to be a goal-scoring, physical asset for the Blueshirts, a player they will sorely need as they try to move on from this past year. Cuylle is one of the most physically dominant forwards in the NHL, and the incredible part about that is he's still very much a kid. As he continues to develop and play in the NHL, he's bound to get even bigger and stronger, adding more muscle to an already physically imposing frame.

Cuylle is an RFA this season and, unfortunately, a prime candidate for an offer sheet. Therefore, Drury needs to get ahead of this and sign the important Rangers winger sooner rather than later. Cuylle is expected to play a significant role in the Rangers' future, which is impressive for a second-round pick the team recouped by offloading Lias Andersson to the Kings. Some things really can work out.