The New York Rangers have had difficulty finding a first-line right wing this offseason. They signed veteran Reilly Smith to possibly fill the role, but this move didn’t excite fans as much as expected. Supporters are already guessing who the Rangers might pursue at the trade deadline. However, the best solution might already be on their team. The rise of 22-year-old Will Cuylle could address the Rangers’ top-six forward needs.
Could the Rangers play Will Cuylle on the right wing?
In the 2023-24 season, the Rangers saw a strong performance from rookie Will Cuylle. The 6-foot-3 winger, known for his physical play, recorded 21 points (13 goals and eight assists) in 81 games on the team’s third line. Cuylle’s physicality was notable, as he ranked seventh in the NHL with 247 hits.
Although Cuylle played left wing throughout the season, head coach Peter Laviolette considered moving him to the right side, as reported by The New York Post. Laviolette mentioned, “It is something I’m considering. I’m going to wait and see how things shake out with regard to health, but I think he had a very good camp. With the opportunity of players not being in the lineup, you’re looking at the lineup and you need to fill holes and put things together. So he’s gotten an opportunity on the right and he’s looked good in practice.”
Could the Rangers move Cuylle into a top-six role?
Breaking up the world-class second line of Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere would be a significant risk, as this line was pivotal in driving the Rangers to the President’s Trophy and a deep playoff run.
However, promoting Lafreniere to the first line could create an opportunity for Cuylle to join the second line with Panarin and Trocheck. Alternatively, the Rangers could elevate Cuylle to the first line, where his physicality would complement the playmaking and scoring abilities of Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
Despite this, Cuylle’s playing style is ideally suited for the bottom six. His physicality and defensive prowess are exactly what the Rangers need on their third line. While his attributes could strengthen the first line’s weaknesses, his skill set would have a greater impact in the bottom six.
Be the first to comment