NY Rangers 2023 prospect rankings: No. 3 is on the verge of breaking through

Beginning Aug. 28, lohud.com and the USA TODAY Network will release our fifth annual ranking of the top 10 prospects in the New York Rangers' organization.

These prospect profiles, with one set to be revealed each weekday through Sept. 8, are based on conversations with over 20 sources in total. They include coaches, trainers and executives who have worked closely with these young players, pro and amateur scouts from around the world and many of the prospects themselves. Any players who are eligible for the Calder Trophy − 25 or younger and have not played more than 25 NHL games in a season, nor six or more games in any two preceding seasons − are up for consideration.

No. 3: LW Will Cuylle

It took fewer than five periods for Will Cuylle to notch his first NHL fight, which, according to him, didn't stem from any bad blood or provocative chirping − rather, it was a simple inquiry from Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar.

"He asked if I was willing to go and I said, ‘Okay,’" the rookie explained with a grin and a shrug following a 4-1 Rangers' win on Jan. 27. "I wasn’t expecting it, but I was ready."

Cuylle was willing to accept the challenge and show he could hold his own against one of the tougher opponents in the league.

That toughness earned a measure of respect from his new teammates, but it's only a small part of a package that has many believing the 21-year-old winger is on the verge of breaking through.

One scout from a rival team put it this way: "To get a guy at 6-foot-3, 220 (pounds) who can skate, shoot and fight, they don’t grow on trees."

The comparison many have made is a player Cuylle said he models his game after: Washington Capitals enforcer Tom Wilson, who has become one of the most feared players in the NHL while regularly scoring over 20 goals per season. That would represent close to a ceiling development scenario for the 2020 second-round draft pick (No. 60 overall), but the floor could still be an effective role player.

"He’s taken good steps," the same scout said. "His American League performance has been very good and very convincing. He's a projectable bottom-six guy. You don't have to beg him to play that style. I think he knows what he is."

Cuylle received a four-game taste with the Rangers last season, but he spent most of the 2022-23 campaign with their AHL affiliate in Hartford.

The results were encouraging on several fronts, as the Toronto native led the Wolf Pack with 25 goals while adding 20 assists in 69 games and playing in all situations. He was especially effective in the second half of the season, with 18 of his 25 goals coming after Christmas break.

In fact, in a May phone call with lohud.com, Hartford head coach Kris Knoblauch named Cuylle first when asked which players made the most noticeable strides.

"By the end of the season, he was on our first power play unit, one of our top penalty-killing forwards, on our top line and handling a lot of responsibility," he said. "Certainly, he was one that really progressed and is coming along. There were high expectations for him, and I think he's been doing a very good job of meeting those expectations."

His left-handed shot is a clear asset, although there is debate among scouts about how much of a scorer he'll be at the next level. Some believe he can net 20-plus goals per season once he establishes himself, while others envision something more in the 10-to-15 range.

It will help his cause that he's not over-reliant on his outside shot. Cuylle uses his size to get inside and hunt for rebounds and tips, which he's often seen working on after practice. As a result, he spent a good chunk of time in the net-front position on the Wolf Pack power play.

His offensive output will, in part, be dictated by opportunity − specifically, where he plays in the lineup and how many minutes he earns each night. And that will depend on how the other aspects of his game develop.

Physicality has always been a staple for the power forward, while Knoblauch noted his growth defensively and expanded presence on the PK. Cuylle has also shown himself to be an engaged forechecker, but he'll have to prove he can keep up with the NHL pace in that role.

One scout noted "he has to improve his first step because he's massive," but insisted that his straight-line skating is "no worse than NHL average" once he gets going.

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"He’s not a lateral agility type of guy," they added. "But there are a lot of players in the league who aren’t and play that type of style."

Clarity should come soon.

A slew of offseason signings may temporarily block Cuylle's path to the Rangers' roster, but even if he doesn't break training camp with the team, he should be one of the first players in line for a recall this season.

"He’s going to carve his way into a spot pretty soon here," one Northeast scout said. "They need him and (2021 first-round pick) Brennan Othmann to come in as young guys on those entry-level deals and give them more flexibility with the cap."

Cuylle is anxiously awaiting the opportunity.

He's shown that he's unafraid to go toe-to-toe with an intimidating challenger on the big stage; now it's time to prove he can play on it consistently.

"I got to see what it’s like at that level," he said in May. "That will just motivate me more to work harder during the summer."

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Will Cuylle: NY Rangers prospect No. 3 in 2023 rankings