The New York Rangers have some tough decisions to make ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline, and one such name of note is Will Cuylle. Last year the budding power forward was lone bright spot of hope in what ended up being one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory. His physicality and energy was contagious, he set new offensive career highs, and was honored with the Steven McDonald Extra effort award. Cuylle looked like he was well on his way to being an integral part of the future, and someone who was becoming the player the Rangers had been searching for for the better part of a decade. With the calendar now flipped to March, it is time to have a conversation about Cuylle.
Cuylle's third season regression is latest crisis in the Rangers' retool
Through 59 games this season, Cuylle has scored 13 goals and added 15 assists for 28 points. The numbers represent a dropoff from the 45 points he delivered just one year ago. With the Rangers operating in a post Letter 2.0 world, Chris Drury is actively evaluating the roster to see which players have a future in New York, and which ones are expendable. Cuylle was once considered a potential foundational piece with upside, but he's now trending toward potential trade chip.
Cuylle was given the audition and he hasn't capitalized
This is Cuylle’s first season under Mike Sullivan, and the Rangers' newest bench boss didn’t hesitate to hand the 6'3", 212-pound forward a prime opportunity in the top six. Clocking in at 17:11 per night, a jump of more than two minutes over last season, Cuylle has been granted the heavy lifting. The expectation was clear: with increased ice time and improved linemates, he would naturally build on his previous success and push for the 30-goal plateau.
Instead, we’ve seen a regression. While one could argue his decline is merely a symptom of the broader malaise gripping the locker room, excuses have a shelf life. He is officially running out of runway.
Cuylle is locked into a $3.9 million cap hit through next season, at which point he’ll be a 25-year-old approaching UFA status. In a landscape defined by "Letter 2.0," every roster spot is a strategic calculation. If Cuylle isn't a foundational piece of this retool, he might not fit the timeline by the time this team is competitive again. Drury is left with a difficult que
Why a trade might be the best thing for both parties
Cuylle proved his mettle during the 2024-25 campaign, thriving in a third-line role that highlighted his grit. While this season’s pace, currently hovering around 18 goals and 21 assists, is a regression, rival front offices value exactly what he brings to the table: size, physicality, and a relentless edge. He remains the prototypical "change of scenery" candidate.
Consider the path of Artturi Lehkonen. A solid, reliable contributor in Montreal, Lehkonen’s game ascended to a completely different level after he was moved to Colorado at age 26. It is possible that Cuylle possesses that same yet to be shown potential. With a manageable $3.9 million cap hit and a track record of toughness, he is an incredibly attractive trade chip for Chris Drury. We've heard a lot about Braden Schneider, but this could be the player who nets the Rangers significant assets for their "big picture" plan while simultaneously handing Cuylle the fresh start he needs to unlock his ceiling.
The stats, however, highlight why the clock is ticking. After a promising stretch in November and December, Cuylle hit a wall. In his last 17 games between January and February, he managed just three goals and two assists. In the high pressure environment of a retool, that level of fading production is difficult to justify for a top-six forward.
With the trade deadline looming, we’ll soon find out if his name is on Drury’s shortlist. If Cuylle survives the deadline, one thing is certain: he is playing for his Rangers future every shift the rest of the way. He is no longer just fighting for a spot in the top six... he is fighting to prove he belongs in the organization’s long-term plans.