Three games isn’t a huge sample size when evaluating an NHL coach’s lineup decisions, but the early results of Peter Laviolette’s choice to swap young forwards Ne in the New York Rangers’ top six are already promising.
Since Laviolette made the change ahead of last Thursday’s 3-2 overtime victory against the Minnesota Wild, Cuylle has tallied a point in each contest (one goal, two assists), while Lafreniere has registered two points (one goal, one assist), including snapping a 15-game goal drought.
Lafreniere shifted from playing right wing alongside Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin to taking over the left wing spot next to J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad. Meanwhile, Cuylle moved to his off-wing to fill Lafreniere’s former role with Trocheck and Panarin.
The adjustment has not only brought more balance and efficiency to the Rangers’ top six but has also boosted both players’ production. Lafreniere opened the scoring in Saturday’s 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, while Cuylle netted New York’s lone goal in Sunday’s 3-1 home loss to the Edmonton Oilers, tying the game early in the second period.
“Some guys are just having a tough time finishing right now,” Laviolette explained after the Minnesota game. “Sometimes a change of scenery helps. Moving ‘Laf’ back to his natural side … I thought both lines performed well, and overall the team played hard.”
Considering the Rangers’ thin depth on the right wing, shifting Lafreniere out of his comfort zone and having Cuylle switch sides was a bold decision. It’s even more surprising given Lafreniere’s chemistry with Panarin and Trocheck last season, when he notched 28 goals and 57 points, then tied for the team lead with eight playoff goals. But this year has been a struggle for him, particularly on offense.
Vincent Trocheck breaks his 11-game goal drought and gets the @NYRangers on the board! #NYR | #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/FQvKyReBkL
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 14, 2025
In his first game with his new linemates, Lafreniere managed just one shot. However, he made an immediate impact in his second outing, scoring just 1:43 into the first period against Columbus. While Zibanejad’s aggressive forecheck forced the turnover from defenseman Damon Severson and goaltender Daniil Tarasov, Lafreniere was in the right place at the right time, going to the net and capitalizing on the play.
The 23-year-old continued his impressive play on Saturday, making a key impact with a third-period outlet pass that set up Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck on a 2-on-1 break. Trocheck finished the play with a high blocker-side shot to extend the lead to 3-0.
Cuylle was back at it Sunday night, scoring a gritty goal by jamming a loose puck across the goal line, with assists from both of his new linemates.
Young Rangers forwards could benefit playing outside comfort zone
Considering the Rangers’ crowded depth chart on the left wing compared to the thinner options on the right, it’s easy to see why management might view Will Cuylle as a potential successor to Chris Kreider. Whether that transition happens as soon as this offseason or further down the road, Cuylle shares many of Kreider’s traits—he’s a power forward with size, speed, and the relentless style of play the Rangers covet. The key difference between them is the decade age gap.
Cuylle plays a direct, north-south game with a high compete level, the kind of qualities that are especially valuable in the playoffs. Still, shifting to his off-wing is no small task for a player with his physical, straightforward style.
After the game against Minnesota, Cuylle credited Artemi Panarin for making the adjustment easier.
“’Bread’ likes having the puck on his stick and skating around,” Cuylle said. “So if I can get to the net and screen the goalie whenever he shoots, it probably gives us a much better chance to score.”
That net-front presence from Cuylle played a big role in setting up Vincent Trocheck’s goal against the Wild.
The Rangers’ third line of Will Cuylle, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko burst out of the gates this season, performing as efficiently as any trio in the NHL. In fact, during October, they led the entire league in expected goals for—outpacing high-profile lines like William Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Matthew Knies of the Maple Leafs; Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis from the Hurricanes; and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Ross Colton. To top it off, they were the last line in the NHL to be on the ice for a goal against—about as efficient as it gets.
But after Chytil and Kakko were both traded, adjustments had to be made. Cuylle’s strong play earned him a promotion, as he ranked fourth on the team in points and led in plus-minus before joining Mika Zibanejad’s line on January 9. However, after the move, his production cooled. Cuylle finished January with three points in 10 games and a minus-4 rating—the second-worst on the team, behind only Zibanejad. While Cuylle is still viewed as the Rangers’ future power forward, the chemistry between him and Zibanejad didn’t mirror the connection Zibanejad has long had with Chris Kreider.
Meanwhile, Alexis Lafreniere’s development had been slow but steady, finally paying off last spring when he emerged as a rising star during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That performance earned him a lucrative seven-year contract extension. However, despite a strong start this season, Lafreniere’s momentum stalled, and Peter Laviolette is hopeful that the recent line shuffle can reignite his game. Through 68 games, the former first-overall pick has tallied 15 goals and 38 points.
Zibanejad has experienced a resurgence since J.T. Miller joined the team via a February 1 trade with Vancouver. Miller has been producing at a point-per-game pace since his arrival, and the Rangers are counting on Lafreniere to benefit from playing alongside them.
As for Artemi Panarin, he’s proven time and again that he doesn’t need elite linemates to put up big numbers. His first season with the Rangers is a prime example—when he was a Hart Trophy finalist and led the league in 5-on-5 points, playing mostly with Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast, two players known more for doing the dirty work than lighting up the scoresheet.
