Will Cuylle's Evolving Role Fuels Rangers' Early Success

Will Cuylle's impact on the New York Rangers is prompting a re-evaluation of his development trajectory, as his early-season performance demonstrates a growing versatility that extends beyond scoring.

Cuylle has quickly become a multifaceted player, capable of significant physical contributions and consistent offensive output. In a recent 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, he recorded his fifth career multi-goal game, netting his first two goals of the season. This performance, part of a seven-game stretch where he has accumulated five points, places him on a pace to surpass his previous career best of 45 points from the 2023-24 season. His early success provides a blueprint for his continued development and potential to exceed the 20-goal mark he has reached in each of the last two years.

His two goals against the Canucks were crucial for the Rangers, contributing to their fifth win in seven games entering a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning. These goals were significant for his line, as they represented only the second and third goals scored by the unit at five-on-five play this season. This development is particularly promising for a third line tasked with alleviating offensive and defensive pressure on the team's top six forwards.

"I mean, I thought [Sunday] was good for our line," Cuylle stated postgame. "I thought for the most part we were down in their end. I think we’ve been kinda building our game all year. Results haven’t always come, but analytically getting a lot of chances, a lot of Grade A chances. So it’s only a matter of time before they start going in."

Cuylle's first goal came early in the second period, initiated by a pass from Noah Laba. Weaving past a defender, Cuylle fired a shot into the Canucks net. Later in the third, he drove to the net on a rush, converting an Eeli Tolvanen rebound past Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen.

Reflecting on his game late in the 2025-26 season, Cuylle expressed a desire for higher expectations and acknowledged the inconsistency in his performance. Despite reaching the 20-goal threshold again, he felt he could contribute more.

The 24-year-old forward has remained with linemates Noah Laba at center and Eeli Tolvanen, a unit that Head Coach Mike Sullivan has kept intact. Their performance against the Canucks marked their best expected goals for and expected goals for percentage of the season, according to Natural Stat Trick. Despite earlier struggles, Sullivan has characterized the line as "a responsible line" that fulfills the team's needs.

Cuylle's individual statistics have also been a key factor. He has recorded at least one point in five of the Rangers' seven games this season and leads the team with 26 hits. This physical presence, which ranked him third in the NHL entering play on Monday, has been a hallmark of his game for the past two seasons.

If Cuylle can consistently replicate his recent performance and his line can maintain defensive zone draws while producing offensively, he has the potential to elevate his game further. "I think Will, that’s an important element of Will’s game — the physicality that he brings," Sullivan said after a previous game where Cuylle engaged in his 12th career NHL fight. "He’s such a great athlete. He skates so well. He finishes checks. He’s hard on pucks. When he plays that way, he’s hard to play against. He certainly makes us a better team."