The clock is ticking for the New York Rangers and the organization to sign restricted free agent Will Cuylle to a new deal with July 1st looming on the horizon.![New York Rangers Will Cuylle #nhl #rangers]()
There has been much discussion over the past couple of weeks of the potential of losing him to an offer sheet as he is one of the more important restricted free agents in the New York Rangers organization.
Offer sheet likely to come to Cuylle
The offer sheet threat is real for the Rangers as many teams have stated that this form of acquiring talent maybe more common especially as the cap goes up.
Cuylle Was drafted by the New York Rangers in 2020, second round 60th overall. His physical style of play and his frame standing at 6 foot 3 and 212 lbs makes him an attractive commodity.
The 23-year-old power forward played all 82 games for the Rangers this year scoring 20 goals with 25 assists for 45 points That was a + 12.
Many pundits have wondered what kind of a contract would be comparable for this young player and he has been compared to Toronto Maple Leafs restricted free agent power forward Matthew Knies.
Yesterday, the Maple Leafs announced that they had signed Knies to a six-year contract extension that had a cap hit worth $7.75 million per season after he had a salary of 960,000.
According to The Athletics' Peter Baugh, the Rangers have already been in talks with Cuylle about a potential contract extension. However, it's unclear how far these talks have gone thus far and what is exactly holding the two sides up from agreeing on a deal. - Remy Mastey
Cuylle must be retained as a part of Rangers youth
Rangers general manager Chris Drury has begun the youth movement into the Rangers lineup as several players from the Hartford Wolfpack have made it to the lineup by the end of this season.
Cuylle Is a key piece to the Rangers future and if the Rangers want to control that future, it's important that they lock him in as fast as possible whether it's through a two-year bridge deal or a six to eight-year long term contract.
Rangers fans will have to wait and see whether an offer sheet will go Cuylle's way or Drury and his management team are able to lock him up long term and prevent this from happening.
Unrestricted free agency is set to open on July 1st.
