Rangers injury update: Filip Chytil doesn’t have concussion, will travel to Calgary
Filip Chytil and the New York Rangers received the best possible news about the center’s upper-body injury on Tuesday. Per several reports, Chytil met with a specialist in New York and does not have a concussion, as originally feared.
The 25-year-old is day to day and will join the team in Calgary on its current four-game road trip. The Rangers skate against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night, then will fly to Calgary after the game, and will face-off with the Flames on Thursday.
It’s not known yet if Chytil will be in the lineup against the Flames. But the mere fact he’s rejoining the team and free from concussion-related concerns is a huge plus for both player and team.
“I think our doctors do a really good job of protecting the players and making sure that when they come back that they’re healthy. When that happens, that’s when Fil will be available,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said Tuesday.
Chytil sustained the injury last Thursday in a 3-2 win against the San Jose Sharks after a collision with teammate K’Andre Miller in the second period. He played one more shift and then was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
When the Rangers practiced Saturday, Chytil was not on the ice with his teammates. He also didn’t make the trip to Seattle, where the Rangers opened the road trip with a 2-0 win Sunday.
Jonny Brodzinski took his place centering the third line between wings Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko. That trio was on ice — and Cuylle and Kakko earned assists — when Zac Jones scored off the rush early in the third period to make it 2-0.
However, that line missed Chytil against the Kraken, finishing with an xGF of 34.20 percent, per Natural Stat Trick.
Brodzinski will remain in the lineup Tuesday against the Canucks. Jake Leschyshyn, who was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League before the trip, is the extra forward on the roster.
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Filip Chytil will rejoin Rangers on road trip
Chytil missed all but 10 regular-season games and six Stanley Cup Playoff games last season because of an upper-body injury believed to be a concussion. He’s battled head injuries throughout his career. So, this was a major scare for both the player and the team the past several days.
One would imagine that Chytil is rejoining the team in Calgary at least to take part in practice, and possibly to play before the trip ends in Edmonton against the Oilers on Saturday. It wouldn’t make sense for the Rangers to fly him out west if he wasn’t getting back on the ice.
But Laviolette wasn’t saying Tuesday.
“He’s coming back to join us, and then we’ll make those decisions.”
Chytil is tied for fifth on the Rangers with four goals and is tied for ninth in assists (five) and points (nine). He, Cuylle and Kakko have outscored opponents 11-0 so far this season.
And not it appears they’ll be reunited on the ice, sooner rather rather than later.
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