The New York Rangers continue to amaze us with lackluster play that has seemingly gotten worse by the game. This retooling phase that is set to begin officially in this upcoming offseason has gotten off to a shaky start, and the crystal ball on the future is very cloudy.
At the very least, there is one prospect that is having a solid first go-around the NHL, in Gabe Perreault.
One of the more noticeable disappointments on this roster is Will Cuylle, who has really taken a step back this season. After showing so much promise and potential in his breakout 2024-25 campaign, where he put up 20 goals and 45 points while being honored as the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner, there is not much to say about this season other than it being underwhelming.
To make matters worse, if you look at this season by month, splitting it up, it looks even worse.
Cuylle's season, and how he got here
Here is Cuylle's splits over the course of this season.
Month | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -2 | 12 |
November | 15 | 6 | 5 | 11 | -4 | 6 |
December | 15 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -6 | 6 |
January | 14 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -6 | 15 |
February | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
March | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Obviously all of this adds up to 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 71 games this season. He is only eight points off of his numbers from last season, but there is something about his game this season that has not seemed impactful. At least from the eye-test. His underlyings tell an interesting story as well. Last season he finished with a 54.86 GF%, a 49.64 CF%, and a 48.36 xGF%. With just a handful of games left, his slash line includes a 47.66 GF%, a 47.83 CF%, and a 49.36 xGF% per Evolving-Hockey.
There is something lacking in his game, and that has been extremely evident this month. Cuylle has not registered a point in nine straight games, but this team has not been great over that stretch either.
Mike Sullivan talked about Cuylle's effectiveness earlier this season, and those comments are pretty timely right now. Via The Hockey News, "Sometimes, depending on which line we put him on, he has a tendency to get away from that north-south, straight-ahead game that we think he thrives in,’’ Sullivan said. “I think it’s been sporadic.”
The price of expectations
The business side of the game only adds to the scrutiny. Cuylle is currently in the first year of a two-year bridge deal carrying a $3.9 million AAV which represented a significant pay increase he earned after his standout 2024-25 campaign. When a player receives that kind of financial vote of confidence, the expectation is a step forward, not a stagnant lateral move. For Cuylle to justify that investment, he needs to find another gear over these final 11 games to at least match his previous point totals and prove that last year wasn't a statistical outlier.
An uncertain future in the retool
Outside of a productive November, Cuylle’s 2025-26 season has been among the most disappointing on a team full of them. While his contract effectively guarantees him a spot through the 2026-27 season, his long-term standing in the Rangers' next era is suddenly murky.
If he can salvage his totals down the stretch and take a legitimate step forward next season, the front office might consider another bridge deal to see where he truly fits in the grand scheme of the retool. However, in a "Letter 2.0" world where spots are no longer guaranteed by tenure or draft pedigree, Cuylle is quickly running out of time to prove he is a cornerstone rather than just a placeholder.