The Rangers’ second-line wing job looks like one of the real camps-to-watch storylines, and Oliver Bjorkstrand is standing in the middle of it for now. He’s projected to open the season there, but with just one year left on his deal, he’s clearly not part of the long-term picture. That opens the door for a younger option to seize the spot before the season is over.
The names to keep circling are Will Cuylle and Liam Greentree.
Cuylle has the edge on paper because he’s already an NHL player and has established himself as one of the more intriguing forwards in the organization. His 45-point breakout in 2024-25 changed the conversation around him, and the Rangers have treated him like a core piece ever since. Chris Drury never viewed him as a trade chip at the deadline, which says plenty about how the team sees his value.
But there’s a catch. Cuylle’s best work last season came lower in the lineup, not in the top six.
When he moved up, the offense didn’t follow. That matters, because the second line is supposed to drive scoring, not merely survive shifts.
With his current profile, Cuylle looks more comfortable as a bottom-six forward who can bring a shutdown, defensive-first edge.
Greentree, though, fits the offensive profile better.
He’s still a prospect, but his season in the OHL was strong: 52 games, 38 goals, 36 assists, 74 points. That was down from the 119 points he posted in 2024-25, but he also played 12 fewer games.
What has stood out about Greentree is the shot. It’s hard, it’s accurate, and it gives him a real shot-first identity.
Add in the hands, and there’s a clear case for how he could help a scoring line.
The physical side isn’t a deal-breaker either. Greentree isn’t the type to go hunting for big hits, but at 6'3", 216 pounds, he won’t be easy to move off his spots.
That gives the Rangers some size in the top six without sacrificing skill, and if the shot carries over, he could make sense next to players like J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafrenière as the finisher and irritant on the line.
However it plays out, this is one of those battles that will hang over the Rangers all season. Bjorkstrand may start there, but the real question is whether Cuylle can prove he belongs in a scoring role or whether Greentree forces his way into it. The only route to that spot is simple: be a consistent contributor on the ice.
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