New York Rangers Desperately Looking For More From Top-Six Forward As Struggles Continue Early This Season
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
While the team remains shorthanded with Vinnie Trocheck out of the lineup, one player has been absent production-wise: Will Cuylle. As a former third-line forward who was a part of an electric line with Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil, the brilliance we saw last season seems to be gone.
Now, as a as a top-six forward in the lineup, the Rangers will need more out of the former 45-point player.
Cuylle was once a bright spot in the team's lineup, but the team is missing the kind of energy he brought last season. A fiery spirit and a third liner who put up 20 goals.
He hasn't been able to live up to his past billing, playing 8 games this year and only scoring 1 point (1 G). We have to wonder if Mike Sullivan is doing the forward justice by keeping him in the top six?
The New York Rangers Need More out of Will Cuylle
For example, he was most productive with his "kid-line" teammates, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil.
Last season, Cuylle was at his best when he was playing on the third line with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko. In 21 games together, they scored 13 goals and allowed only 2. The metrics were also impressive. According to Money Puck, that line had an xGoals percentage of 61.7% and an xGoals For per 60 Minutes of 3.62. This line was where Cuylle found most of his success and contributed to his breakout.
He'd later find himself on new lines, playing alongside players like Mika Zibanejad, Reilly Smith, and J.T. Miller, but the production wouldn't come back even with a forward like Miller.
However, after Kakko and Chytil were traded midway through the season, Cuylle found himself playing more in the top six. He found himself on lines with Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, and Riley Smith. These lines were far less productive than the Cuylle Kakko and Chytil lines. In 40 games together, they scored 11 times and allowed 13. They also had an xGoals percentage of 43.75% and an xGoals For per 60 Minutes of 2.645.
The New York Rangers have to end the Cuylle experiment on the top six, as he's much more of a gritty player than he is a pure goal-scorer. While he did post a career-high last season, he's always had a physical edge and has posted 29 hits this season.
He would be an excellent piece alongside Noah Laba, and build an actual shutdown line, with Cuylle's offensive prowess giving them an extra bite.
Previously on NY Rangers Insider
