1st. Will Cuylle impresses Rangers' coaching staff and earns a spot in the opening night lineup.

2nd. Cuylle's preseason performance stands out with his physicality, offensive presence, and versatility.

3rd. Rangers trim roster to 22 players, choosing to keep Cuylle over experienced depth players.

4th. Cuylle's strong training camp leads to opportunities alongside established players and special teams play.

5th. Cuylle's cap hit prevents the Rangers from carrying 23 players on the roster, but allows for cap space accrual.

6th. Brennan Othmann assigned to AHL Hartford, while Zac Jones remains with the team.

Rookie Will Cuylle has made an impressive first impression on the New York Rangers' coaching staff, earning himself a spot in the opening night lineup. Head coach Peter Laviolette spoke highly of the 21-year-old winger, noting his noticeable presence both in practice and in the preseason games. Cuylle's strong performance throughout training camp has secured him a position in the lineup for the Rangers' first game of the season against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Cuylle, the team's second-round pick in 2020, stood out with his physicality, offensive abilities, and versatility. Laviolette praised Cuylle's feet and his ability to generate offense, noting that he scored goals and consistently put pucks to the net. The 6-foot-3 winger has proven to be a big presence on the ice and has impressed the coaching staff with his performance.

In order to keep Cuylle on the roster, the Rangers made the decision to assign more-experienced forward Jonny Brodzinski to AHL Hartford after he cleared waivers. Cuylle's strong training camp performance made him a valuable asset for the team, and the Rangers were willing to part with depth players in order to keep him on the roster. Cuylle's cap hit also played a role in the decision, as the Rangers needed to stay within their cap space limitations.

Cuylle's preseason performance allowed him to skate alongside established players such as Artemi Panarin and Filip Chytil. However, with Alexis Lafreniere listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Cuylle may slide back to the third line with veterans Vincent Trochek and Blake Wheeler. Cuylle's versatility and ability to contribute on special teams make him a valuable asset for the Rangers.

The Rangers trimmed their roster to 22 players, with Brennan Othmann being assigned to AHL Hartford and Zac Jones remaining with the team. Othmann, the 16th overall pick in 2021, had a strong training camp with the Rangers but will benefit from getting significant AHL time as he transitions from juniors. Jones, on the other hand, carries a higher risk of being claimed off waivers, so the Rangers chose to keep him on the roster.

With the finalized roster, the Rangers have five days to prepare for their opening night game on October. The team will continue to work closely with their players, including Cuylle, in order to be ready for the start of the season. Cuylle expressed his excitement at making the team and his determination to continue working hard and improving his game. The rookie winger is eager to learn from his teammates and contribute to the team's success throughout the season.