One of the few bright spots of the 2024-25 season for the New York Rangers was Will Cuylle. The former second-round pick had his breakout season, racking up 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points. These numbers shattered his previous career highs, and fans were excited to see what he had in store for an encore. This excitement only grew when it was announced that Cuylle would be playing in the top six.
Through the first eight games, Cuylle has not been able to live up to the hype. While he still brings a lot of energy and intensity on the ice, the point production has not been there. He's only recorded one point this season, which was a goal in the Rangers' 6-1 victory over the Penguins. It's fair to say that the Rangers need a lot more from Cuylle, and it's not going to come with him playing on the top line.
The Rangers are doing Will Cuylle a disservice playing him in the top six
Last season, Cuylle was at his best when he was playing on the third line with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko. In 21 games together, they scored 13 goals and allowed only 2. The metrics were also impressive. According to Money Puck, that line had an xGoals percentage of 61.7% and an xGoals For per 60 Minutes of 3.62. This line was where Cuylle found most of his success and contributed to his breakout.
However, after Kakko and Chytil were traded midway through the season, Cuylle found himself playing more in the top six. He found himself on lines with Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, and Riley Smith. These lines were far less productive than the Cuylle Kakko and Chytil lines. In 40 games together, they scored 11 times and allowed 13. They also had an xGoals percentage of 43.75% and an xGoals For per 60 Minutes of 2.645.
The best way for the Rangers to get the most out of Cuylle is to move him down to the third line. This is an area where Cuylle's skills would thrive. One of the areas in which Cuylle has excelled this season is his physicality. He currently has 29 hits this season, which is second-most, only behind Matt Rempe. This will give the bottom six a much more physical edge and make the Rangers a much harder team to play against.
This will also be a step towards the Rangers having a shutdown third line. One modern trend in the NHL is for one of your lines — usually the third — to be a defensive-first line. While Cuylle's defensive metrics aren't the best, it's his play style that would fit the line. His physicality, plus his ability to block shots and force turnovers, make him perfect for this line. He can also give it a bit of an offensive edge.
It may only be a small sample size, but Cuylle needs to bring more if the Rangers want to make a playoff run. It's better to use him in his natural role, rather than forcing him to be something he's not.