Will Cuylle was named the 2024 recipient of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, presented annually to the New York Rangers player who “goes above and beyond the call of duty.”
The announcement was made in a pregame ceremony Wednesday before the Rangers hosted the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden.
The award is named after Steven McDonald, a New York City Police Detective, who was also a lifelong Rangers fan. McDonald was shot and injured in the line of duty July 12, 1986, was courageous and forgiving in his recovery and always made an appearance at MSG to announce the winner of the award bearing his name after the Rangers established it before the 1987-88 season.
McDonald died on January 10, 2017, from his injuries at the age of 59.
His widow, Patti Ann McDonald, and son, NYPD Captain Conor McDonald, presented the award to Cuylle.
The award is chosen annually by fans and the winner is presented a $25,000 check (in the player’s name) from Northwell Health made out to the Steven McDonald Foundation.
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“I’m super honored to win this award,” Cuylle told MSG Network.
Will Cuylle rewarded for strong season with Rangers
Cuylle has played up and down the Rangers lineup this season and provided consistently strong results, and effort. Even when the Rangers languished through a brutal 4-15-0 stretch in November and December, Cuylle’s compete level was exemplary.
The 23-year-old entered play Wednesday with 278 hits, second most in the NHL and seven shy of the Rangers record held by Ryan Callahan. In his second NHL season, Cuylle already surpassed his rookie totals with 18 goals, 21 assists and 39 points, and hasn’t missed a game.
Cuylle is the fifth player on the Rangers current roster to win the prestigious award. Vincent Trocheck won the award last season. Chris Kreider (2022), Adam Fox (2021) and Mika Zibanejad (2019 and 2020) also have won the award.
Jan Erixon was the first recipient of the award in 1988. Adam Graves won it a franchise-high five times. Ryan Callahan (four times), Mats Zuccarello (three), Mark Messier (two), Jed Ortmeyer (two), Henrik Lundqvist (two), Sandy McCarthy (two), Erixon (two) and Zibanejad (two) each won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award more than once.