New York Rangers forward Will Cuylle's growth will deeply impact the future of the organization
Emerging as a key player for the New York Rangers in 2024-2025, forward Will Cuylle has turned heads.
In 13 games, he's scored 9 points( 4 G, 5 A) and is a reliable and consistent forward who Peter Laviolette could rely upon.
Dominant at 5v5
The Will Cuylle-Filip Chytil-Kaapo Kakko line is one of the best lines for the Rangers at 5v5. With a 63.7 XG% on the ice.
Creating high-quality scoring chances, and controlling the ice is a formula for success. It's just shameful that at one point in the season, he saw fit to break this lineup.
They've outscored opponents, 9-0 and played a two-way game that doesn't stop on the backcheck.
Cuylle himself, is a forceon ice as he currently has an XG of 5.3, which means he's had an opportunity to score more as he creates more than just one chance during possession.
That brings into question, under Peter Laviolette he's become a dominant forward on the ice.
What could his next contract look like?
Will Cuylle signed a 3-year, $2,775,000 contract with the New York Rangers, including a $277,500 signing bonus, $2,775,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $925,000.
With GM Chris Drury operating under a tight salary cap, Cuylle is set to become an RFA at the expiration of his current deal in 2025.
The Rangers will have to keep Cuylle in mind while they have a laundry list of players to sign including Igor Shesterkin, and K'Andre Miller, and the need to add depth as well, they could have $25 million in cal space, is Shesterkin signs for $11.5 per Kevin Weekes.
That means they could only have $1.5 Million to allocate per player, which included rostered Rangers like Zac Jones, Kaapo Kakko, and others they'll have to factor in Cuylle's next raise.
It's been projected at $3-5 Million AAV, depending on how finishes the season in the NHL.
Given the fact there will be a cap crunch, and Cuylle being a pivotal part of the Rangers' future, they might have to offer the forward a bridge deal in 2025.
Per THW's Sam Henes:
GM Chris Drury will have quite the task ahead of him balancing the multiple UFA and RFAs who await a new deal, and news of their future.
Hopefully, the Rangers see fit to keep Cuylle in the Blueshirt.
Cuylle is the ideal kind of hard-worker on the ice we want to see.
