The Detroit Red Wings Have An Offer-Sheet Target in Rangers' top-six forward
Photo credit: Danny Wild-imagn images
GM Steve Yzerman should take advantage of Drury's mismanagement as the New York Rangers are in a cap crunch, and will have to sign multiple RFAs with about $8.42 million in cap space (per PuckPedia), send an offer sheet to forward Will Cuylle.
If GM Steve Yzerman is serious about upgrading the lineup, while getting younger, he should look to New York.
The Rangers have multiple RFAs to sign, and with the upcoming crunch with Alexis Lafreniere, Will Borgen, and
Igor Shesterkin's new contract taking effect, he'll be in a bit of a conundrum.
That is when the Detroit Red Wings and GM Steve Yzerman, who have over $20 million in cap space, should pounce.
They should, without hesitation, send an offer sheet to forward
Will Cuylle, who had a breakout season in New York, scoring 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists).
Cuylle is a prototypical two-way forward who plays a heavy game. The 6'3" forward has no issues getting physical; he dished out 301 hits this year, in addition to his 20-goal season.
This is only after scoring a total of 21 points in 2023-2024, and he has shown exponential growth in the NHL. A fun fact for Red Wings fans too, he has the capability of being the power-play, and would be a force to reckon with on the right, and could be a viable replacement for
Vladimir Tarasenko.
If the Red Wings offered Cuylle a total of $4.5 million for his next deal and the Rangers didn't match, it'd cost a 2nd-round pick, which the Red Wings have three in the next three years.
Per The Athletic, with the Blackhawks as an example:
What if the Chicago Blackhawks offered Cuylle a $4.5 million deal? If the Rangers didn't match, it would net them only a second-round pick in exchange for one of their better forwards this season.
Sacrificing one wouldn't hurt the Wings in the long term and would be a meaningful move, if Cuylle continues to grow into the top-six forward he looks to be.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
POLL |
JUIN 1 | 83 ANSWERS The Detroit Red Wings Have An Offer-Sheet Target in Rangers' top-six forward If you were GM Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings, would you send an offer sheet to forward Will Cuylle, a New York Ranger, for $4.5 million AAV? |
Yes | 33 | 39.8 % |
No | 50 | 60.2 % |
List of polls |