The Rangers haven’t looked like one of the NHL’s best teams in over a month, having gone just 8-8 since Dec. 5.
And with the Blueshirts still dealing with injuries and shaky play following a second straight loss on Monday, this time to the Vancouver Canucks, head coach Peter Laviolette shook up the team’s top line for Tuesday’s practice.
Will Cuylle was bumped up from the third line, taking the spot of Blake Wheeler at right wing, alongside Mika Zibanejad at center and Chris Kreider on the left.
“It was pretty cool,” Cuylle said. “We’ll see how things look out there. Obviously, it’s two really good players. A couple of Ranger legends. I can learn a lot from them, as well.”
Laviolette stressed it was “just practice,” but didn’t rule out using the line Thursday against the Blues in St. Louis.
“It was an opportunity to pop him in there and see how he does,’’ Laviolette said of the 21-year-old Cuylle. “You look at different things in practice.”
But Laviolette has praised Cuylle for his solid play and ability to avoid mistakes.
“Will is probably one of our more physical guys,’’ Laviolette said. “He gets in on the forecheck [and] bangs bodies.”
In some ways, Cuylle’s game resembles Kreider’s, especially when it comes to the physical play both bring in front of the net.
“Kreider makes a living there,’’ Laviolette said. “For me, [Cuylle] is a guy who can jump out there and make some noise.”
The decision, according to Laviolette, was also related to the fact the Rangers aren’t at full strength.
“What sometimes gets lost is we’re missing some guys from the lineup,’’ Laviolette said, referring to Kaapo Kakko, who participated in Tuesday’s practice, but remained in a non-contact jersey and seems unlikely to return by Thursday.
“That changes things,’’ Laviolette said. “If we were healthy, I’m not sure that would be the move. [But] we’re not. When you don’t have all your assets available to you, you fill in different spots at times. You try things and give it time.”
Cuylle is confident he and Kreider can succeed together, even if there is some overlap to their games.
“It’s just reading off each other,” Cuylle said. “If I see him standing in front of the net, I’m not gonna stand beside him.”
Cuylle has seven goals on the season while playing left wing on the third line, while Wheeler has just five goals. Wheeler moved to the third line Tuesday, next to Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey.
Of the move from the left wing to right wing, Cuylle said it wouldn’t require much of an adjustment, other than making sure he’s on the correct side in the defensive zone and getting passes from a different defenseman.
And while he wants to make the most of his turn with Kreider and Zibanejad, Cuylle said it was important he didn’t alter his style of play.
“I was saying [Monday], no matter what line I play on, I try to play my game,’’ Cuylle said. “That’s what I’m gonna do: Just keep things simple [and] work hard. I’m not gonna change how I play.”
He’s also aware of what this could mean for him.
“It’s huge,’’ Cuylle said. “It’s a chance to show that I can play with some top guys, potentially. I’m looking forward to it. I hope I get a shot [to do it] in a game.”