Why Rangers coach glad to have Filip Chytil’s speed, skill back in lineup
No one is happier to have center Filip Chytil back in the lineup than New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette.
Chytil returned on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens and ended up starting the play that turned into Kaapo Kakko’s game-winning power-play goal with 24 seconds left in regulation. The 4-3 victory ended a five-game losing streak – and not coincidentally, Chytil missed all five games with what the team called an upper-body injury.
In all, the popular center missed seven games after being injured in a collision with teammate K’Andre Miller during the Rangers’ 3-2 win against the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 14. He played 16:22, a big bump from his season average of 13:51. He led all Rangers centers in even-strength TOI (14:09).
Laviolette said after the morning skate prior to a 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday that he had no problems with using Chytil as much as he did against the Canadiens despite the 25-year-old’s history of concussions.
“We’re in a position where we need to win a game,” he said. “He was cleared, he was healthy, he was out on the ice, he’s been practicing. He wasn’t out (for) two months. He was out for a bit of time, but most of the time he was out he was on the ice and skating and working. We needed to get a win.”
Chytil has suffered numerous concussions during his eight NHL seasons. But he said Monday morning that he was happy with the expanded ice time, as well as starting the game centering a new first line between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, his early-season linemates in 2023-24.
“It’s always nice when you can be there as much as you can,” Chytil said. “I’m focusing, always, on the shift … in that moment. But sometimes [when playing on a third line] there is a big gap between the shifts, and it’s harder to stay focused on that.
“But yeah, when you have consistent shifts, and you’re out there more, it’s always better… because you can have the puck more [and] you can have more chances. You can create, and that’s important.”
That sounded a lot different than his comments after the win against the Canadiens.
“It was not an easy time,” Chytil said then. “Maybe when we have a time in the future, we can sit and talk about it — what’s going on, what was going on the season before, or now in the two weeks — but now is not the time to talk about it.”
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Rangers coach excited to have Filip Chytil back in lineup
The Panarin-Chytil-Lafreniere line got just 10 games together last season before Chytil bumped into Carolina forward Jesper Fast in early November; he missed the final 72 games of the regular season and most of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vincent Trocheck stepped into his spot at center, and the new trio became one of the best lines in the NHL.
Chytil was fully healthy when the new season began, and Laviolette returned him to a familiar spot — on the third line. The unit of Chytil. second-year forward Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko, was the Rangers best until he was injured, outscoring opponents 11-0 when they were on the ice
Chytil looked none the worse for his absence against the Canadiens. His speed and ability to break out on the rush offensively were on display as he centered for Cuylle and Panarin. The trio led all Rangers forward pairings with 0.53 xGF per Natural Stat Trick.
Speed and explosiveness were two things the Rangers lacked during their losing streak.
“He has a lot of speed,” he said. “He’s got a high skill level. He sees the ice well. You could even notice that coming off a game where he hadn’t played for a few games — that his attack on the puck and on the ice were really evident. To me, that helps push defenses back and create space for his linemates.”
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Things didn’t go as well for Chytil, nor his line with Panarin and Trocheck, against the Devils. They were roasted just 1:27 into the game when Jesper Bratt scored off a 2-on-1 rush. Laviolette cut back on their usage and eventually broke the line up, with Chytil moving back between Cuylle and Kakko.
Chytil finished with just 11:47 TOI and no shots on goal Monday. But, really, that’s just a minor blip on an otherwise terrific (nine points; four goals, five assists, plus-9 in 17 games) season, so far.
Most importantly, Chytil is healthy again. And can be counted on when the Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
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