Going into training camp, many New York Rangers fans wanted to see Brennan Othmann make the team.
Othmann, 21, is a player who has had a lot of success in juniors, with Team Canada, and at every level he has competed at. He is also a player who produces, hustles, goes hard to the net, and plays a physical brand of hockey.
While fans had their eye on Othmann throughout training camp and preseason, there was another Rangers prospect who was trying to make the club. That player was Will Cuylle.
Cuylle, 22, was not as highly touted as Othmann was, but he was still someone who could positively impact the franchise. He was another player who plays hard, could throw the body around, and chip in some offense.
Come the start of the season, it was Cuylle who made the big club while Othmann was sent down to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). Up to this point (Tuesday, March 5), it is easy to say that the right decision was made.
For starters, Cuylle is someone who brings a lot of energy every night. He goes after loose pucks, he is not afraid to go into the corners, and if he sees a clean hit worth giving, he will dish it out.
Speaking of hitting, Cuylle has been one of the best in the league in that category this season. He is currently fourth in the league in hits with 202 in 62 games played.
He has also surprised many with his offensive ability. Despite being a player known for his physicality, he has shown soft hands around the net, a great ability to deflect pucks, and has become a player who knows how to find open areas around the net.
As of this writing, Cuylle has 19 points on 11 goals and 8 assists. Two of his 11 goals were game-winners while one of them was on the power play.
Another reason why Cuylle has had success so far this season is because he seems to know what it takes to be a successful and every day NHLer. In an interview with Mollie Walker of The New York Post, Cuylle said he knows what he needs to do in order to be a factor on a nightly basis.
“I know what my game is and what I have to do to be successful,” said Cuylle, who has 10 goals and eight assists this season. “The way I play, which is simple, here I try to play a bit more physically and play that role. It’s that physicality, it’s like an energy that I try to bring every day, and I think it can be contagious at times.
“I’m not trying to do anything too complicated, I’m just trying to play my hardest every single game, be physical and keep things simple. When you do it well, it can be really effective.”
Speaking of being an effective player, Jonny Brodzinski, current linemate and former teammate down in Hartford, told Mollie that Cuylle is doing everything he did down in Hartford and that he has become a tough player to play against in the NHL.
“He’s doing the exact same thing he was [in Hartford] as he is here,” Jonny Brodzinski said. “He’s using his body. You don’t really notice it as much as like a linemate, but then you watch the film, and then you’re like, ‘He just killed, like, five people in this game.’ You don’t really notice it just playing with him, but he’s definitely a hard player to play against, and it’s good to have him on our team.”
Considering how young he is and the fact that he is just a rookie, the future looks incredibly promising for Cuylle in Ranger blue.
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