With a continued focus on potential Flyers draft picks after the 1st round, we here at Flyers Nitty Gritty turn our focus to NHL Draft Prospect Will Cuylle from the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
This 6’3″ 204-pound power forward plays the same hard-nosed, physical brand of hockey that Philadelphia fans have come to love and expect from their Flyers. Cuylle never takes a shift off, operating on full tilt at all times! Because of this, over the past two seasons Will has dished out some of the most bone crushing hits in all of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). He never misses an opportunity to finish a check. Additionally, Cuylle makes opposing players regret ever going into the boards to retrieve a puck. But, as impressive as Cuylle’s physicality is, it’s not the only part to his game.
Will is also equipped with an NHL caliber shot, which he lets go at-will by way of a blistering quick release: picking corners with rapid fire precision. Cuylle also prides himself as a two-way forward, getting back in time to help his defenseman regain control of the puck in their own zone. It leaves one to wonder just why a player with such immense offensive talents did not vastly improve upon his numbers from last season?
Cuylle’s stats this season are similar to his numbers from the previous season:
19-20: 62 Games Played 22 Goals, 20 Assists, 42 Points, 0.67 Points Per Game
18-19: 63 Games Played 26 Goals, 15 Assists, 41 Points, 0.65 Points Per Game
A part of his game that he did manage to develop was his ability to get under people’s skin. Doing so, Cuylle would often times get opposing players to take retaliatory penalties, or sometimes even lure the opposition into a fight where this brawny forward usually comes out on top. Mauling his follow combatant with ease. What is most impressive though is that this Spitfire managed to do all of this while cutting his penalty minutes nearly in half this season.
The one thing that this streaky winger needs to work on is his ability to stay more consistent offensively. At times, Will went on hot streaks where he has piled up games with hat tricks then followed them up by not scoring for seven or eight games at a time. This is a major reason why this incredibly talented prospect will most likely slip into the second round. The Flyers should not be discouraged by this enough to pass on Cuylle when it is their turn to make their second selection; There’s a reason why these players are called prospects. Not everyone develops at the same rate. Some players may require a bit more tutelage to hone their craft and Cuylle already possesses some notable NHL quality talents.
Therefore, the Flyers would be well-advised to take Will Cuylle with their second-round selection. He could fill a lot of holes in the Flyers lineup, in time becoming that GRITTY power forward that is willing to do anything to help his team win on a nightly basis.
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