Mounting Pressure on Rangers to Extend Will Cuylle Before Risk of Losing Promising Power Forward Becomes Reality…read more…
As the NHL offseason heats up and teams shift their focus from the 2025 Draft to roster construction, the New York Rangers find themselves in a precarious situation involving one of their rising stars: Will Cuylle. The 22-year-old winger, fresh off a breakout campaign, remains unsigned as restricted free agency looms—and the pressure is mounting.
For a franchise with Stanley Cup aspirations, letting a player like Cuylle slip through the cracks isn’t just risky—it’s potentially disastrous. And fans, insiders, and league executives alike are beginning to wonder: why hasn’t a deal been finalized?
A Breakout Year
Cuylle’s 2024-25 season served as a resounding statement. After flashing potential in limited NHL action the year prior, he solidified his place in the lineup, tallying 17 goals and 34 points in 82 games while bringing consistent physicality and defensive responsibility. Skating on the third line for much of the year, Cuylle often faced tough matchups and handled them with maturity well beyond his years.
“Will’s growth was one of the most important developments for us this season,” Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said in April. “He’s become a core part of what we’re trying to build—someone who can shift momentum with a hit, a goal, or a key forecheck.”
The former 2020 second-round pick was widely seen as one of the NHL’s better value young forwards—offering size, tenacity, and scoring upside at a time when physical forwards are becoming increasingly valuable in playoff settings.
Why the Delay?
So what’s holding things up?
Sources close to the organization suggest that negotiations between Cuylle’s camp and Rangers GM Chris Drury have been ongoing but complicated. While both sides are believed to want a long-term deal, they remain apart on valuation. Cuylle’s representatives are reportedly aiming for a contract that reflects his top-nine role and future upside—likely in the $3–4 million AAV (average annual value) range—while the Rangers are eyeing a shorter bridge deal closer to $2 million per year.
The standoff is not uncommon, especially with RFAs who’ve proven themselves at the NHL level but haven’t quite broken into star territory. But the stakes in Cuylle’s case are particularly high. A holdout or prolonged negotiation could derail the Rangers’ offseason plans, complicate salary cap management, and sour the relationship with a player the team sees as part of its next core.
“If you look at where the cap is going and how much other teams would covet a player like Cuylle, the Rangers are playing a dangerous game by letting this linger,” said a rival Eastern Conference executive. “There are teams watching closely.”
Cap Crunch Complications
The Rangers are hardly alone in facing financial challenges. But with Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Adam Fox all on hefty contracts—and Alexis Lafrenière also due for a new deal—the room for error is thin. The team already used a compliance buyout on Barclay Goodrow earlier this month to create cap space, signaling how tight things have become.
One option the Rangers could explore is moving a veteran piece to open up additional room for Cuylle’s extension. But even then, any delay in resolving his contract risks arbitration proceedings or, worse, an offer sheet from a cap-flush rival.
“It only takes one team to see a young, physical winger with upside and decide to make life hard for New York,” said Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff. “And while offer sheets are rare, it’s not impossible—especially in a year where several teams, like Chicago and Anaheim, have cap space and a need for middle-six forwards.”
Fan Base Growing Anxious
The concern among Rangers fans is growing. On social media and message boards, many are calling for GM Chris Drury to lock Cuylle in before training camp begins.
“He brings that old-school Rangers edge we’ve been missing,” wrote one fan on Blueshirts Banter. “If they mess around and lose him to another team, it’ll be another Ryan Graves situation all over again.”
Cuylle has also become a favorite among younger fans and season-ticket holders for his gritty style and off-ice humility. He’s embraced New York, and the fanbase has embraced him in return—making the uncertainty all the more frustrating.
A Key Piece of the Puzzle
From a roster-building standpoint, Cuylle represents the type of player every contender needs: young, cost-controlled, versatile, and playoff-ready. His emergence has made it easier for the Rangers to move on from aging depth pieces and think more boldly about their window to win.
“If the Rangers want to compete with Florida and Carolina in the East, they need guys like Cuylle locked in,” said NHL Network’s Mike Rupp. “He doesn’t need to score 30 goals. Just be that consistent physical presence who can chip in timely offense. Those players win rounds in May and June.”
In many ways, Cuylle’s situation mirrors that of another former Ranger: Jesper Fast. Valued for his two-way play and character, Fast eventually walked in free agency after the two sides couldn’t agree on terms—a decision the Rangers later regretted. They can’t afford to repeat history.
Time Is Ticking
Training camps are just a few months away, and the Rangers would ideally like all RFAs signed well before then. But as July 1 approaches—the official start of free agency—the clock is ticking.
While it’s unlikely that Cuylle would receive a hostile offer sheet, it’s not impossible. And even if none materialize, a holdout or prolonged arbitration battle could stunt his development and disrupt team chemistry. The Rangers have seen how costly those situations can become.
“This should be a no-brainer,” one longtime Rangers beat writer tweeted on Monday. “Cuylle is exactly the kind of player you reward and build with. Get it done, Drury.”
The Bottom Line
The Rangers believe they’re in a championship window. But windows close fast in the modern NHL, and missing even one piece of the puzzle can have ripple effects throughout the organization.
Will Cuylle is not a superstar—not yet—but he doesn’t have to be. What he brings to the table is consistency, character, and the kind of hard-nosed edge that playoff hockey demands. Losing him, or even letting this negotiation drag out too long, could become a distraction the Rangers can’t afford.
The pressure is on because once the unthinkable happens, there’s no turning back.
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