Will Cuylle goal another Rangers highlight at World Championships

Will Cuylle joined the New York Rangers party at the 2025 World Hockey Championships on Tuesday. The Rangers forward scored his first goal for Canada in a 5-0 win over France.

Cuylle was held off the score sheet in the first two games and only played nine shifts Tuesday as Canada’s 13th forward in a stacked lineup. But the 23-year-old made the most of it. Cuylle’s goal made it 2-0 Canada at 12:11 of the first period, when he sniped a left-wing shot up and over the blocker of France goalie Julien Junca off the rush.

That goal was sandwiched around ones by NHL stars Bo Horvat and Sidney Crosby, so Cuylle’s tally might be a bit overlooked in the big picture. But Cuylle’s kind of used to that. He sometimes gets lost in a Rangers lineup that includes the likes of Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.

Of course, that narrative could be changing. Cuylle tied Zibanejad for fourth on the Rangers with 20 goals this season. It was part of a breakout in his second NHL campaign. Cuylle more than doubled his point total (up to 45 from 21) and jumped from 13 goals as a rookie to his first 20-goal season.

As such, Cuylle moved into a top-six role at times, up from his usual spot on the third line. He’s an emerging power forward in the League, one who finished the 2024-25 season with 301 hits, tied for third in the NHL and establishing a new Rangers record.

“I think I always knew what kind of player I wanted to be, always tried to play that power forward, physical, good defensively,” Cuylle said at break-up day. “I think with more opportunity you’re able to show what you can do, I guess.”

Cuylle hasn’t received a lot of opportunity with Canada at the Worlds, though he’s played in each of their games, three victories to date. Tuesday, he logged only 5:55 TOI, but made his one shot on goal count.

Rangers have good showing at World Championships

The Rangers have had a good showing, so far, at the World Championship. Mika Zibanejad is tied for second in the tournament with three goals, one behind Horvat, who has four for Canada.

Zibanejad had two goals, including the game-winner late in the third period, to lift Sweden to a 4-2 win against Austria on Saturday. Two days later he was bloodied by a high-stick to his mouth in a 2-1 win against Finland, when he still played 19 minutes but was held off the score sheet.

Rangers center Juuso Parssinen is playing for Finland and was also scoreless in that game Monday against Sweden. Parssinen does have two goals at the Worlds, each a game-winner.

Rangers goalie prospect Dylan Garand posted a shutout for Canada in their tournament-opening 4-0 win against Slovenia. Garand faced 11 shots and since has watched NHL veterans and Stanley Cup winners Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Binnington man the goal for Canada.

Speaking of Binnington, since he’s on the team and wears No. 50, Cuylle was assigned No. 17 by Canada.