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Why the New York Rangers need to keep Will Cuylle for the long run
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- Why the New York Rangers need to keep Will Cuylle for the long run
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Will Cuylle is emerging as a young star in the Big Apple — and New York Rangers ' fans are taking notice. In a season of high expectations and disappointing results, Cuylle established himself as someone the Rangers could trust night in and night out.
The 23-year-old restricted free agent forward brings energy, toughness and the kind of on-ice presence that coaches love. Cuylle forechecks aggressively, finishes hits and makes smart plays at the right time. He was one of just two Rangers ' to suit up for all 82 games this season, and that kind of reliability matters when you're trying to compete for a Stanley Cup.
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What makes Cuylle even more valuable is that he still has still plenty of room for growth, and he's already shown he can handle the intensity of the NHL. With more experience, there's reason to believe Cuylle will take on even bigger roles in years to come.
On a team that's been criticized for its lack of physically and desire to win, Cuylle plays with purpose, doesn't shy away from physical play and hits the ice with a winning mentality. He's the kind of player worth investing in — not just for what he brings now, but for what he's on track to become.
Rangers need to lock up RFA forward Will Cuylle long term
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Cuylle is coming off his three-year entry-level contract, which carried a cap hit of just $828,333, according to PuckPedia. He's an RFA without arbitration rights, so the Rangers merely need to extend a qualifying offer to retain him. But Cuylle isn't just someone teams re-sign to check a box, he's the kind of player the Rangers should want to lock in as a young, rising piece of their core. Players who score 20 goals and pile up hits (301) don't grow on trees; they're the kind teams want to build around.
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A two- or three-year bridge deal in the $3 million-$4 million range would reward Cuylle for what he's already shown while still giving the Rangers cap flexibility — a must on a team that has less than $8.5 million in cap space and multiple RFAs to sign or move. Locking him into a long-term deal isn't an awful idea, but it might be tough — especially given the team's current cap constraints and some big-money contracts for older players weighing down the roster. But it's something they might have to do to prevent another team from offer-sheeting him, as happened to the Edmonton Oilers last summer.
Re-signing Cuylle is about committing to the kind of identity the Rangers want to build. He was brought up through the organization, is still developing through the Rangers, and hopefully remains a key piece for seasons to come.
Cuylle's role in New York figures to expand this season
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As a physical forward, Cuylle usually found himself in New York's bottom six, where he earned the trust of coaches and his teammates with his relentless effort and progression. While Cuylle bloomed offensively in his second season and began to get power-play time, his value goes beyond the score sheet.
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Former coach Peter Laviolette summed it up perfectly.
"He comes to work every day," Laviolette said. "He's competitive, he's physical, he works hard. He exemplifies how you want your team to play."
Cuylle knows exactly what's expected of him — and delivers. Whether he's skating on the third line or filling a role higher in the lineup, he is consistent and dependable. Fans voted Cuylle as winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award , which speaks volumes about his impact. It's not just the hits or the points, it's the little moments. He may not be the flashiest player, but his presence has become a staple of the Rangers' identity.
Cuylle ranked fourth in the NHL in hits and broke Ryan Callahan 's single-season franchise record. His physical presence for a forward is calculated, clean, and consistent. Cuylle embraces what it means to wear a Rangers Jersey.
Related: Rangers top all of New York's major sports teams by win percentage since 2010
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What the future holds for Will Cuylle with the Rangers
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As the Rangers continue to reshape their roster during the offseason, players like Cuylle become even more important. He's not a flashy name, but he represents the type of stability and identity every successful franchise needs.
Cuylle will most likely take on a bigger role with the Rangers come October, but that depends on how their roster evolves. Whether he stays in the bottom six or earns more time on special teams and the top two lines, he gives the Rangers flexibility in the lineup, making him almost impossible to replace.
The path forward for a team like the Rangers includes keeping players who play with heart. Cuylle checks off that box and so much more, so there's no question the Rangers need to make sure they keep him.
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