The New York Rangers are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season. The Rangers had their eyes set on making the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. However, they got off to a slow start on the ice. And they were never able to recover.
The Rangers are undergoing a retooling process. New York is looking to add younger talent that can play now. But the impact they will truly bring will come sometime down the line. To that end, the Rangers got to work on this process over the summer.
New York traded a couple of veterans off the roster. Vincent Trocheck was traded to the Utah Mammoth once NHL free agency began. He was traded for two players and a draft pick.
Then, New York traded veteran defenseman Will Borgen. Borgen went to one of New York's Original Six rivals, the Boston Bruins. The Bruins sent two draft picks to the Blueshirts in order to complete this trade.
The Rangers didn't only subtract, though. New York swung a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for scoring winger Pavel Dorofeyev. Dorofeyev is coming off back-to-back 35+ goal seasons. He set a career high with 37 last year. He signed a seven-year contract with the Rangers after this trade.
New York certainly has some hope for the season ahead, even if expectations are low. Before the season begins, there is one piece of business left to take care of. It involves one of the team's more promising young players.
Rangers should avoid Will Cuylle contract drama
In 2024-25, Will Cuylle showed he has some intriguing potential at the NHL level. He scored 20 goals and broke the 40-point mark for the first time. All this happened while also playing a rather physical style. He brought what the Rangers needed. In 2025-26, though, things didn't play out so well.
Cuylle hit the 20-goal mark once again last season, though he played a bit of a diminished role. He still brought his offensive touch and was more than physical last season. In fact, he set a career high with 302 hits delivered in 2025-26. Only Kiefer Sherwood and Yakov Trenin delivered more hits last campaign.
The 24-year-old will be a restricted free agent next summer. The young forward has shown that he can be an important part of the future. Even if he is a depth player more than anything else. It will be hard for this team to replace what he brings to the table.
Cuylle's role in 2026-27 could be diminished once again. The Rangers acquired Dorofeyev, as previously mentioned. They also signed Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen in NHL free agency. New York has more depth on the wings. Factor in youngster Gabe Perreault, and it will be difficult for Cuylle to break into the top-six.
Still, his blend of scoring and physicality just isn't seen that often in the league. There are a lot of players who can offer one of these traits. Both at the same time is much more uncommon.
If Cuylle reaches restricted free agency next summer, he should be a prime offer sheet candidate. With offer sheets becoming more prevalent, the Rangers risk losing Cuylle for below market value. They should do their best to avoid this situation and sign the 24-year-old to an extension now. This would give him confidence and avoid an in-season distraction.