In what has become a far too familiar scene during his NHL career, former New York Rangers center Filip Chytil was placed on injured reserve by the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, amid concerns he may have sustained another concussion. Chytil is being evaluated by team medical personnel back in Vancouver after sustaining an unspecified injury Sunday in a 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals.
The 26-year-old was shaken up after an open-ice hit from Capitals forward Tom Wilson with less than a minute remaining in the first period at Capital One Arena. Chytil made a pass to his right near the red line; Wilson came from his blind side and leveled him with a shoulder to the chest.
There was no penalty called on the play. Wilson didn’t make contact with Chytil’s head, but the hit might’ve been a touch late. If anything, there could’ve been a minor penalty assessed for interference.
“It looked like, from my first view, that it was a clean hit,” Canucks coach Adam Foote said afterward. “I’m going to look at it again. [Wilson’s] a big guy.”
Chytil needed assistance leaving the ice after the hit and didn’t return to the game.
“It’s an awful feeling. Whether it’s a guy for their team or our team, I think everyone feels that,” Foote said.
Chytil had a long history of head injuries during his seven seasons with the Rangers. He played only 10 games in 2023-24 after he sustained a concussion against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 2, 2023, and then had further issues in January.
He did return to play in six postseason games for the Rangers in the spring of 2024. But last season, Chytil sustained another head injury after he was moved to the Canucks as part of the J.T. Miller trade on Jan. 31.
That injury took place in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks in mid-March, and Chytil didn’t play again the rest of the season.
He got married this past summer and had a normal offseason of training. Chytil remained upbeat and optimistic that his injury woes were in the past ahead of training camp in September.
“Knock on wood, I feel very good and feel very positive,” Chytil told the 100% Canucks Podcast.
“Two weeks after I came [back to the Czech Republic] I started to work out and skate. Now, it’s almost four months already where I’m working out and skating.”
More injury concerns for former Rangers center Filip Chytil
Early in the second period after the Canucks increased their lead to 4-0, former Rangers defenseman Victor Mancini was challenged to a fight by Capitals forward Brandon Duhaime. It was Mancini’s first professional fight, and it was a doozy.
“He asked me and I wasn’t going to turn him down,” Mancini explained. “Obviously, that’s not the guy who hit Fil, but I want to stand up for my teammates. I was ready to answer the bell.”
Mancini’s reward? He was returned to Abbotsford of the American Hockey League on Monday.
Chytil entered play Sunday tied with Brock Boeser and Kiefer Sherwood for the Canucks’ team lead with three goals in five games. After the trade last season, Chytil recorded six points (two goals, four assists) in 15 games with the Canucks.
A first-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2017 (No. 21 overall), Chytil is two games shy of 400 in the NHL. He has 173 points (80 goals, 93 assists).
His best season was in 2022-23 when Chytil scored 22 goals and totaled 45 points in 74 games with the Rangers.
The Canucks already were without Boeser on Sunday. The 28-year-old forward didn’t play due to personal reasons.