Rangers injury update: Filip Chytil being evaluated for upper-body issue, Igor Shesterkin practices again
The New York Rangers players, organization, and fanbase all continue to hold their breath as center Filip Chytil is still being evaluated for an upper-body injury sustained in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Given his past history with concussions, the Rangers are hoping this upper-body injury is not related, but they remain quiet about the situation for now. There was no further update from the team Wednesday. Another head injury would be devastating — and possibly even career-ending — for the 25-year-old.
Chytil’s had numerous head injuries in his eight NHL seasons. Just last season, he was limited to 10 regular-season games and six postseason contests by a major head injury and an ensuing setback. He missed seven games earlier this season after a collision with teammate K’Andre Miller in November, though the Rangers said Chytil didn’t have a concussion.
While no injury is ever timely, this one is especially hard for the player and team. Not only have the Rangers started 2025 on a better note, 2-1-1 in four games, but Chytil has played some of his best hockey in this recent stretch. Coming into the game against Dallas, Chytil had a four-game point streak consisting of four goals and one assist. He has 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 33 games.
Chytil logged 9:01 TOI against the Stars and was minus-2 with one shot on goal. He was ruled out at the start of the third period. His last shift ended with 4:02 remaining in the second period.
The Rangers (18-20-2) are seventh in the Metropolitan Division, 13th in the Eastern Conference and six points out of the second wild card in the East.
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Igor Shesterkin, Chris Kreider progressing toward return
The injury news with two other Rangers regulars is better. Igor Shesterkin practiced in full Wednesday after participating in the morning skate Tuesday. again with the Rangers. Since backup goalie Louis Domingue didn’t practice, this could be a sign that Shesterkin is ready come off injured reserve and return to action. The Rangers No. 1 goalie has missed four games with an upper-body injury.
Shesterkin hasn’t played since a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Dec. 30. Though he finished that game, he did take a huge hit after Ryan Lindgren knocked a Panthers player directly into him in the third period.
Additionally, Chris Kreider skated on his own before practice on Wednesday. Kreider was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday, retroactive to Sunday, and has missed two games.
While it was not disclosed if this was related to the back spasms that Kreider was dealing with earlier in the season, it is a very likely possibility. Jonny Brodzinski filled in for Kreider the past two games and scored a goal in a 6-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
With Chytil and Kreider sidelined, plus the addition of forward Arthur Kaliyev, who was claimed off waivers on Monday and the return of Matt Rempe from his eight-game suspension, the Rangers mixed a few things up at practice.
Here are the line combinations and pairings from practice Wednesday:
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Zibanejad – Smith
Berard – Brodzinski – Kaliyev
Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey/Rempe
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Borgen
Vaakanainen – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
With Chytil out of the lineup, Brodzinski likely slots into the third-line center position. Kaliyev then joins the third line on the wing, with Cuylle moving up to Zibanejad’s line to skate on left wing in Kreider’s spot. Kaliyev also practiced on the second power-play unit Wednesday, taking Chytil’s spot.
The Rangers are set to play the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night for their third meeting of the season. They’ve been outscored 10-1 in losing the previous two meetings, meaning coach Peter Laviolette may opt to put Rempe back in the lineup to shake things up a bit. The Rangers are an incredible 16-4-2 in the regular-season with Rempe in the lineup the past two seasons.
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