Will Cuylle has been a pleasant surprise ever since the Rangers drafted him 60th overall back in 2020. He has provided the organization with a strong physical presence while also getting the puck into the back of the net when needed. He appears to be the type of player Chris Drury and the front office want in the lineup. That's why the organization wanted to give him more responsibility and a bigger role with the team. But was he able to live up to these lofty expectations?
Expectations
2024-25 was a breakout season for Cuylle. In 82 games, he registered 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points. All of which were career highs for him. He was one of the lone bright spots in a rather disappointing season for the Blueshirts. This season improved his standing in the organization. Before last season, he was seen as a bottom-six forward who could be a top-nine player if everything went right. But now a top-nine player is seen as his floor. The Rangers hoped he could develop into a solid top-six forward.
Coming into this season, there was an expectation that Cuylle's game would keep improving. With him turning 24 during the season, there was still time for him to develop. He can be a player who continues to improve and becomes a key piece in the Rangers' lineup. He was expected to get close to 50 points and have consistent top-six minutes.
Performance
The start of the season did not go the way Cuylle had hoped. During the first month of the season, he had only one goal and three assists for four points. But these three assists came in the last three months of the season. However, things got better when the calendar flipped to November. During the final two months of 2025, he racked up nine goals and eight assists for 17 points. This gave fans hope that the first month of the season was just a slow start.
While it was good that Cuylle was starting to produce again, he did it after he was moved back down to the third line. He did not take the step the Rangers felt he would. To make things worse, he began to struggle again in 2026. Over the final four months of the season, he only tallied 10 goals and five assists for 15 points. This caused him to finish with a stat line of 20 goals and 18 assists for 38 points. A seven-point drop off from 2024-25.
His counting stats and offensive production may have taken a hit, but he still brought a physical edge. For the second straight season, Cuylle led the team in hits, delivering 302. This was also good for the third most in the NHL. This is the aggressive player the Rangers have been looking for. He is the type of player who can give the Rangers some grit and toughness without sacrificing offense production. It's a positive sign that this style of play continued despite his offensive struggles.
He also put up pretty decent advanced metrics as well. According to Natural Stat Trick, he had a 49.01 CF%, 50.49 SCF%, and a 48.52 xG%. These numbers suggest that Cuylle generated more offense than his counting stats show. He just had a hard time finishing on plays or getting the puck to players who could. He also allowed only 175 high-danger chances, which shows solid production on defense. He was not constantly getting beaten by teams and giving up quality chances.
Grade: B-
Where do they go from here?
This season may have seen Cuylle take a step back offensively, but we got a better idea of what type of player he is going to be. The organization should have Cuylle penciled in on the third line going into next season. He can help the Rangers create a physical shutdown third line, something that has been lacking for years now. It could be what helps the Rangers get back on track and speed up their retool.
This is also a place that can maximize his offensive output. With his flashing offensive skills in the past, he will likely be the go-to scorer on the line. He will be the player they try to get the puck to in order to score. Being the go-to guy will help increase his goal production. While it will not make him a top-six forward, it will help him reach his full potential.
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