Will Cuylle continues to impress in 2nd Rangers season: ‘He does his job out there’

In his second full season with the New York Rangers, Will Cuylle’s taken a massive leap in his development. But the 23-year-old forward hasn’t forgotten that despite increased point totals, it’s his relentless effort he puts into every game, every shift that got him here in the first place.

So, it’s a major credit to Cuylle that he was voted the recipient of the 37th annual Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award this season.

“It’s been a really strong season for him,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said Friday. “He comes to work every day. He’s competitive, he’s physical, he works hard. He exemplifies how you want your team to play. He does the right things, he’s been a great teammate.”

It’s been a frustrating season for the Rangers, since they’ve failed to meet high expectations. Though they still can get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a strong finish — they’re two points out of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference — it’s a steep fall from 2023-24 when the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy and fell just two wins shy of reaching the Stanley Cup Final.

Where there’s been so much disappointment, Cuylle has been a bright spot. He sits at an NHL career-high 18 goals and 21 assists entering the Rangers game Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, nearly doubling his point total from his rookie season a year ago. Cuylle is fourth on the Rangers in goal scoring, just two behind Chris Kreider for third most.

It’s an impressive number for a player still developing his game in the NHL. But it shouldn’t be surprising. Cuylle scored 43 goals in 59 OHL games with Windsor in 2021-22 and followed up with 25 goals in 69 games for Hartford of the American Hockey League the following season.

Also not a surprise is his robust physical play. Cuylle is second in the NHL with 281 hits. That puts him on the precipice of Rangers history – Cuylle is only five hits shy of breaking the franchise record for most hits in a season set by Ryan Callahan in 2009-10.

“The hitting is something that he’s done consistently, even last year he brought that into play and so just finishing all his hits, he does it in a clean way,” Laviolette said. “I think he hits just about everything that he sees. I don’t think it’s reckless, but I mean some of them are loud.”

Though he’s played up and down the lineup this season, Cuylle knows his role on the Rangers. He’s added some more offensive output this season, but sticks to his strength, often affecting the game with his physicality.

“We never sit there and say ‘you gotta be more physical’, he does his job out there,” the coach added.

No sophomore slump for Will Cuylle: ‘It’s been a nice progression’

While breaking the single-season hits record will be an incredible accomplishment for Cuylle, his offensive breakout shouldn’t be overlooked.

As a rookie in 2023-24, Cuylle appeared in all but one game. He scored 13 goals and had eight assists. Not head-turning numbers, but solid contribution from a rookie playing all season in the bottom six.

Cuylle’s played quite a bit in the bottom six on the the third line this season, but has earned minutes in the top six and on the power play, as well. Earned is the right word, because his work ethic wouldn’t have it any other way.

“From his first year to his second year, it’s been a nice progression,” Laviolette said.

Cuylle will skate Saturday with center Mika Zibanejad and wing Jonny Brodzinski. His production has dried up recently — he’s gone seven games without scoring a goal and has one in his past 14 contests — but the compete is still there. Because it always is. Cuylle is the lving definition of extra effort.