LW Will Cuylle - Windsor Spitfires, OHL (2020, 60th, NYR)

[SnowblindNYR]

He’s quietly had a very good rookie season. Point totals aren’t amazing, but he’ll probably never be more than a 40 point guy anyway and he’s been playing 3rd line with sporadic PP time.

What’s been extremely surprising is his defense. I don’t think I’ve seen him make one terrible defensive play all year, and I think I could say that every other player on the team has. He’s very responsible defensively. You feel comfortable that your team isn’t going to be scored on when he’s on the ice. He’s turning into a shutdown defensive winger that can score a little, and plays very physical.

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Maybe not worth a 7 overall but if this is what we got from Lias directly rather than via trade we'd shrug and take it. I think he can top out as a 25 goal guy. He has a good shot and is pretty good around the net. His offensive numbers aren't great because he's a rookie playing with no center most of the year.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Maybe not worth a 7 overall but if this is what we got from Lias directly rather than via trade we'd shrug and take it. I think he can top out as a 25 goal guy. He has a good shot and is pretty good around the net. His offensive numbers aren't great because he's a rookie playing with no center most of the year.

This is the first season I’ve started to believe that Cuylle might be able to replace Andersson. I always thought it was copium how our fans said a late second round pick would replace a 7OA.

Not to say a guy who probably tops it as an okay 2LW and could very reasonably end up worse than that replaces what you hope you get out of a 7OA, but Lias was kind of supposed to be like Cuylle is in some ways. Very good defensively, physical, strong, and can be a complimentary scorer with a decent shot. Lias was a total bust. Cuylle is already better than Andersson ever will be.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[RangersFan1994]

He has having a great month of October. Hope he can keep it up and have a career year.

Will Cuylle Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Will Cuylle, a hockey player from Toronto, ONT born Feb 5 2002 who was active from 2018 to 2025.

www.hockeydb.com

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

In before the lock (over 100 games), but he’s slowly turning into a first liner. He’d probably be like top 10 in a 2020 re-draft and I’m not even joking. I think he’s a top five player on one of the best teams in the league.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

In before the lock (over 100 games), but he’s slowly turning into a first liner. He’d probably be like top 10 in a 2020 re-draft and I’m not even joking. I think he’s a top five player on one of the best teams in the league.

Top 5 is tough

This season I'd say Panarin, Lafreniere, Chytil, Shesterkin, and Fox are ahead of him.

 

[Dominance]

In before the lock (over 100 games), but he’s slowly turning into a first liner. He’d probably be like top 10 in a 2020 re-draft and I’m not even joking. I think he’s a top five player on one of the best teams in the league.

15 even strength points in 18 games getting 13-odd minutes a game is insane (and probably unsustainable, for anyone).

Given the high esteem with which you clearly hold him, how do you see Cuylle’s prospects of moving into the top-6?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Top 5 is tough

This season I'd say Panarin, Lafreniere, Chytil, Shesterkin, and Fox are ahead of him.

He has the same points as Laf with less PP time and he plays much better defense. Quick>Chytil also, but yeah otherwise we’re on the same page about the other three.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

15 even strength points in 18 games getting 13-odd minutes a game is insane (and probably unsustainable, for anyone).

Given the high esteem with which you clearly hold him, how do you see Cuylle’s prospects of moving into the top-6?

If he keeps scoring, he will, but when exactly that happens is hard to tell.

Most Rangers fans would tell you he already plays in the top six because his line and Lafreniere’s line are the two best lines by a big margin. The five on five ice time reflects that also that they are played as such. But it is a little annoying how little they play in all situations. It’s tough to tell veterans that their spot is being taken, but Laviolette might have to do so at some point because there’s just no way that Zibanejad, Kreider, and Smith should be playing 3-5 minutes more per game, if we continue to see the overall discrepancy in level of play.