As Season Nears Midpoint, Rangers Face Urgent Decision on Filling Top-Six Spot
From Cuylle’s limitations to Perreault’s development curve, the Rangers still haven’t found their missing top-six piece as the season nears halfway.
As head coach Mike Sullivan continues to navigate his first season with the New York Rangers, one thing we have seen is he is not scared to shake up the lineup. From scratching players who have underperformed to playing around with the line combinations, Sullivan will do whatever it takes to find the right blend of players to maximize the team's chance of winning.
The one piece of the puzzle he can't seem put together, however, is which player should round out the top six?
The Blueshirts have played around with numerous different options to try and determine what works best. Whether it be a veteran option or one of their younger players in the system, there has been little consistency about who is playing in that role at the top of the lineup. While the team has multiple routes to go, each one comes with its own downsides. As the Rangers approach the halfway point of the season, they must solve this problem sooner rather than later.
Here are four paths the Rangers could take in answering that question.
The Favorite from Last Season: Will Cuylle
On opening night, Will Cuylle was the first player to get a crack at the top six. Cuylle started the season on a line with J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad. Their time together would be short-lived after Vincent Trocheck's injury, which kept him out for nearly a month. As with all injuries, this altered the lineup, but it would have no impact on Cuylle's time on ice.
Cuylle broke onto the scene last season in third line role. But he hasn't been the same player when being forced to take on tougher matchups. During the 2024-25 season, playing on the third line allowed him to leverage his size and physicality against weaker opponents while also chipping in on offense. While he's certainly not the only Ranger to have a poor start to this season, Cuylle has struggled to find his game in a new role.
Starting with their overtime win against the Dallas Stars, Cuylle has been back on the third line playing with Noah Laba and Brett Berard. In what has been a small sample size, the trio has played well together and has generated scoring opportunities. In this spot, along with time playing with the top power play unit, Cuylle has started to find his form again.
