Team Canada is off to a flying start at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark. The Canadians find themselves atop Group A with a 4-0-0 record, all while outscoring their opponents 21-2. While Canada have the star power of players like Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Macklin Celebrini, depth scoring has played a huge part in the team's success thus far in the tournament. One player responsible for contributing to this depth scoring has been New York Ranger Will Cuylle.
Cuylle had something of a breakout season in New York, tallying 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points, more than doubling his total from the prior year. Additionally, Cuylle improved his 2023-2024 -3 rating, to a +12 in the 2024-2025 campaign. These numbers would be impressive on their own, but considering the fact that Cuylle managed them during a down year for the Blueshirts, fans should be all the more encouraged by his sophomore season.
Following the season, the 23-year-old Cuylle was selected for Canada's IIHF World Championship roster to play alongside some of the best players in the world. Across Canada's four games at the tournament so far, Cuylle has registered two goals and one assist, along with a +2 rating. With such a short tournament format it's unrealistic to expect most players to put up double digit points, but the points Cuylle has scored have been impressive.
On Thursday, Cuylle picked a corner against Austria with a beautiful snipe to give the Canadians a 4-1 lead. With his MO normally being rough and tumble, scoring goals by going to the dirty areas, it's important to remember Cuylle has a heck of a shot as well.
Scoring isn't all Cuylle is adept at, though. In that same showdown with Austria, Cuylle registered a highlight reel assist to Travis Konecny in front of goal.
With the Blueshirts having struggled mightily last season for large stretches offensively, having a young player come into his own and begin racking up the points would be a massive boost heading into the 2025-2026 campaign. Cuylle not only holding his own in international play, but contributing to a potential medal for Canada, should give Rangers fans and management reason to be optimistic.