2026 Rangers Season Previews: Will Cuylle

This article is part of an ongoing series of New York Rangers Season Previews, taking a close look at what we can, and should, expect from each member of the 2026-27 New York Rangers. To read other articles in this series, go here.

When the days seemed at their darkest during the 2024-25 season, Will Cuylle was the heart and soul of the New York Rangers. When everyone seemingly had given up, he continued to drag them into the fight through physical play and with a knack for chipping in offensively.

Cuylle flourished playing on the third line, but when given an opportunity to play in the top six (and deservedly so), the same level of play was not present. Despite very similar numbers, the underlying data shows that he was not as effective in his new role and posing the question, where should Will Cuylle play this upcoming season?

Previous Performance

Last season Cuylle recorded 20 goals, 18 assists, and 38 points in 82 games, finishing with the same number of goals as the 2024-25 season and seven fewer assists. Even with all of the roster changes the Blueshirts saw last season, Cuylle consistently played in the top six and saw nearly double the amount of ice time on the power play as the previous season.

The extra opportunities did not bring out the best in Cuylle's offensive game, which slightly dropped from an xGF/60 of 0.021 the previous season to an xGF/60 of -0.08 while at even strength, per Evolving Hockey. However, Cuylle took a big step forward on the man advantage, jumping from an xGF/60 of 0.168 to a 0.594, the fourth highest on the team with a minimum of 30 minutes on the power play.

Watching Cuylle play last season, it was evident that he did not have the same talent advantage as he did taking on third line opponents, which is what likely hindered his offensive play. These limitations were not always present on the other side of the ice in defensive situations.

Cuylle's even strength xGA/60 of -0.158 was the second lowest of any player on the team behind only Adam Fox and the 29th best among forwards across the league with a minimum of 50 minutes of ice time at even strength. Unfortunately, his strong defensive play did not carry over to the penalty kill, where he logged an xGA/60 of .398.

Expectations

Cuylle is likely to once again play in a middle six role, but it is still to be determined on which line that will be. While I believe he is most effective on the third line, it is no secret the Rangers still somewhat lack in top six talent. It seems the five locks for the top six are J.T. Miller, Mika Zibanejad, Gabe Perreault, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Alexis Lafrenière, leaving one spot up for grabs.

One of Cuylle or offseason addition Oliver Bjorkstrand will likely land in that spot, with Bjorkstrand being more qualified in my opinion. Even if that is the case, Cuylle will likely get bumped up in the lineup should there be an injury.

Also expect Cullye to remain a regular on the team's shorthanded unit, despite numbers from last season. Head coach Mike Sullivan has stated a desire to get more bottom six players involved in special teams.

As Zibanejad and Miller get older, they may also see reduced time killing penalties, which could pave the way for Cuylle to earn more chances. Even with the improved play, there are already too many mouths to feed on the power play and Cuylle is almost certain to play the entirely of the year on the second unit.

Predictions

82 GP | 22 G | 27 A |49 PTS

With a return to the third line, Cuylle will once again get the matchup advantages that allowed for his breakout season. Cuylle was no exception to the Rangers' struggles last season, but I can see him taking a step forward in an improved situation. Progress and development isn't always linear, and in a season where so much went wrong, it is unlikely to be that disastrous again.

If on the third line, Cuylle would likely play with Noah Laba and Tye Karte, who both had strong outings a season ago. The trio has the potential to form a physical third line with a consistent defensive presence.

The Bottom Line

Cuylle is entering a contract year with a lot on the line. He only received a two-year deal after the 2024-25 season, and as the cap continues to rise, he has an opportunity to cash in. Joe and Chip touched on this in last week's podcast and made the case for why the team wouldn't extend him. If his ceiling is only that of a third-line player, his value to the team may be limited by their ability to contend.

If things don't get better for the Rangers this season, he is still a restricted free agent, and his physical two-way game is valued by many contenders. Whether his future is in New York or not, Cuylle is fighting to cash in in an exploding market.