In a season for the New York Rangers that demanded more grit than flair, Will Cuylle delivered both — and plenty of promise to boot.
Far from a flash-in-the-pan, the rugged 6-foot-3, 212-pound left wing transformed in just his second full season from a promising young energy player into a cornerstone of the Rangers’ core — a player whose work ethic, physicality, and quietly developing skill set are now pointing toward something far greater than just regular duty. He is trending toward being not just a key piece, but the kind of leader — and maybe even captain — New York has long sought.
Cuylle began the 2024–25 campaign playing third-line minutes with Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil, but he quickly became one of the team’s most productive forwards.
He established new career highs in goals (20), assists (25), and points (45) across 82 games, all while logging one of the highest hit totals in the NHL with 301, the most by any Rangers player since the stat has been tracked. He led the team with a +12 rating and also won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, a fan-voted honor that captures exactly what Cuylle brings: relentless compete, night after night.
Will Cuylle Brings an Enticing Blend of Skill and Physicality to the Rangers
But the numbers only tell part of the story. Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, who had early exposure to Cuylle’s style during training camp, saw a rare blend in motion.
“He’s been, you know, been really good. Even going back to exhibition when he first came in here, he was a noticeable player with his speed and his physicality,” Laviolette said.
“The chances he gets in practice and the way he can finish, there’s definitely a potential for him to score goals and create up here as well.”
Cuylle’s trajectory has been steep. He logged just 11:08 ice time per game as a rookie; in Year Two that rose to 15:05. He embraced penalty-killing and second power-play duties, even becoming the first Ranger under age 23 to hit 20 points in so few games (23) since Alex Kovalev in 1995–96.
Off the ice, the Rangers cemented their faith by locking Cuylle down on a two-year, $7.8M extension this summer, signaling that they see him as a long-term foundational piece, not just a role player.
What elevates Cuylle’s case beyond raw tools is the intangibles. Rangers veterans and fans alike point to his consistent effort, shift after shift, whether the team is winning or collapsing. Reddit threads praise him as a “beast” who blends heart and skill, a throwback workhorse with modern polish.
Will Cuylle Displays the Traits to be New York’s Future Team Captain
In a shifting culture that needed re-identity and renewed hunger — amid leadership limbo and veteran fade — Cuylle began to embody the ethos being rebuilt. Out went stale, entitled routines. In came physicality, multi-positional utility, defensive awareness, and leadership by example.
With Jacob Trouba gone and no captain currently named, the Rangers are searching for a next-gen leader. Cuylle isn’t yet in the room with Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin or Vincent Trocheck — but give it time. His combination of power, consistency, board-play, scoring, and professional manner places him firmly into the conversation as a future alternate — and possibly captain — when that day arrives.
He’s still young. His Corsi sits just below even, and to join the upper echelon, he’ll need to add faceoff trust, refined puck distribution, and perhaps lean into a top-six offensive role. But if recent seasons are any guide, Cuylle meets those escalation challenges head-on.
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