The New York Rangers’ offense has been a mystery this season.
They came out like gangbusters, scoring 31 goals in their first six games. Since then, however, they have been up and down, with some of their supposed offensive guns like Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and even Vincent Trocheck going silent.
One player who has been consistent this season is sophomore Will Cuylle. Cuylle, 22, surprised many last year by making the big club over Brennan Othmann last season and since that time, has done everything right to show the team that he more than belongs in the National Hockey League.
For starters, he has shown that he can produce. Last season, Cuylle had 21 points (13 goals and eight assists) in 81 games while mostly playing in the team’s bottom sixth.
Cuylle is writing an even better story this season when it comes to his offense. As of this writing (Tuesday night, December 3), Cuylle is tied for second on the team in scoring with defenseman Adam Fox as he has 20 points on nine goals and 11 assists.
There are a few reasons why Cuylle is having a lot of success on offense this season. For starters, he goes hard to the net.
He is not afraid to go to the dirty areas to create scoring chances. Most of his goals have come from the slot or simply by carrying the puck to the net by using his size and speed.
Another reason why Cuylle is playing well this season is because he is playing well at both ends of the ice. He is currently tied with Kaapo Kakko with a +/- of +10.
Cuylle does a great job of putting himself in the right position on the ice to create offense. He does so by putting himself in the slot or next to the net.
His +/- number is also great because he plays well defensively. Cuylle is a player who knows how to forecheck, backcheck, create plays, break up plays, and be on the right side of the puck.
Cuylle is also playing well beyond his years. Rangers’ head coach Peter Laviolette told Remy Mastey of The Hockey News that Cuylle is mature for his age in the league.
“He’s a guy that I found is really detailed about his game,” Laviolette said. “I think there is maturity with that. Being able to handle yourself in your rookie year in a locker room filled with veterans, there is a maturity that comes with that as well.
“The way is off the ice, the way he is at practice, the way he handles his business, it’s almost like a quiet confidence in what he’s doing.”
Lastly, Cuylle is playing well this season because Laviolette has put him with skilled players. This year, Cuylle has played a lot with Kakko and Chytill, two players who can do a lot with the puck and have a lot of offensive abilities.
Luckily for both Cuylle and the Blueshirts, there is a lot to look forward to when it comes to his game both now and hopefully for years to come.
