Rangers Roundup: Will Cuylle scratched in Hartford, All-Star recap, and more

New York Rangers prospects will cuylle
Bobby Trivigno and Will Cuylle at warmups October 7, 2022 (Photo: Alan Sevelka)

The Hartford Wolf Pack closed out their schedule before the AHL All-Star Classic by drubbing the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins by an 8-2 final on Saturday. If you go scanning the scoresheet for what Will Cuylle did in the match, you won’t find his name anywhere.

That’s because the Pack chose to scratch him for the contest lending more credence that Cuylle will be called up for the New York Rangers game against the Calgary Flames on Monday night.

Will Cuylle scratched

Will Cuylle New York Rangers
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Cullye, who turned 21 today, was scheduled to play in the AHL All-Star Classic, but was replaced on February 1.

Per AHL website:

The AHL also announced that Providence’s Vinni Lettieri, Hartford’s Will Cuylle, Laval’s Justin Barron and Coachella Valley’s Andrew Poturalski will be unavailable for the event.

The AHL’s All-Star Classic will be held at Place Bell in Laval on Sunday, February 5th, and Monday, February 6th. Cuylle earned the honors by recording 14 goals and 21 points in 42 games with the Wolf Pack. This is the Rangers second-round pick in the 2020 draft AHL rookie season.

Considering the Rangers pulled him from competing in the AHL All-Star game and last night’s Wolf Pack contest, it’s very likely he’ll rejoin the team to face the Calgary Flames at Madison Square Garden tomorrow.

This is also reminiscent of when the Rangers removed Igor Shesterkin from the AHL All-Star Game in 2020. He was called up and never played in the AHL again.

Cuylle has no points in two NHL games this season.

Sammy Blais’ conditioning stint also ended, and per the AHL’s transaction page he’s been recalled by the Blueshirts. An official announcement is expected today.

The struggling forward was sent to Hartford to log big minutes while the team was on their All-Star Break. He registered 4 goals in 5 games. On the season, Blais has 5 assists in 38 matches for the Rangers.

All-Star Recap

NHL All-Star Game
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlantic Division topped the Central Division to win the 2023 NHL All-Star Game with Matthew Tkachuk taking home MVP honors scoring 4 goals and 7 points.

Artemi Panarin led the New York Rangers trio of All-Stars representing the Metropolitan Division with three assists. He set up all three of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau’s goals. Meanwhile, Adam Fox recorded a helper on Alex Ovechkin’s tally and Igor Shesterkin stopped 5 of 9 shots.

“It’s cool for me to here with [Shesterkin and Panarin],” Fox said afterwards. “All our first years together was with the Rangers and this is our first All-Star game as a group.”

Shesterkin, who had a rough weekend, explained why buddy Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders was shooting in the Tendy Tandem during the Skills competition.

“I lost at rock, scissors, paper and everybody saw what happened,” Igor said of Ilya missing the net on all his attempts. “It was good– very funny that we were the worst goalie tandem.”

Now the Rangers get back to work with Panarin putting everything in perspective.

“The sky’s the limit,” Panarin said via a translator. “There’s always something to achieve and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

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Anthony Scultore is the founder of Forever Blueshirts and has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL... More about Anthony Scultore

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