What’s next for Rangers if Filip Chytil sidelined with injury
There was no update on the condition of New York Rangers center Filip Chytil on Friday, one day after he left a 3-2 win against the San Jose Sharks with an upper-body injury following a collision with teammate K’Andre Miller.
It’s likely there will be an update when the Rangers next practice Saturday, before departing for Seattle, where they open a four-game road trip against the Kraken on Sunday.
Right now, all we have is these cryptic words from coach Peter Laviolette following the win Thursday.
“Day to day. Getting evaluated right now,” Laviolette said when asked about Chytil’s condition.
The accidental collision occurred around the 12-minute mark of the second period, moments after Chytil’s spinning backhand shot nearly beat Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood with the score tied 1-1. Chytil looked to play a puck on left wing when Miller barged in and ran into his teammate by accident. It appeared Chytil was either struck in the side of the head or on the jaw by Miller’s elbow.
The 25-year-old was wobbly when he got up, headed to the bench and then down the runway to the Rangers dressing room. After being attended to by medical personnel, Chytil returned to play one more shift, for 61 seconds, near the end of the period. He was ruled out for the rest of the game shortly thereafter.
The concern about Chytil’s health is great. This is a young player with a bad history of head injuries, including last season, when Chytil was limited to 10 games in the regular season and six in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a similar “upper-body injury.”
If Chytil is forced to miss some time, what are the Rangers options? No matter who steps into his spot, it’ll be tough to replicate the outstanding success Chytil’s had so far this season with linemates Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko. They have an xGF together at 5v5 of 65.29 percent, per Natural Stat Trick, and outscored opponents 11-0.
Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from 3-2 win against Sharks
What’s next if Filip Chytil is sidelined by injury with Rangers
Here are the options, in one form or another, to fill the hole left in the Rangers lineup and on the roster if Chytil does miss some time with the upper-body injury.
Jonny Brodzinski
The most logical move is to slide Jonny Brodzinski on to the third line. He’s already on the roster, played seven games this season, and largely filled in for Chytil last season under the same circumstances.
The 31-year-old is a center, who can also play on the wing, and a favorite of Laviolette, who likes his speed and two-way play. Brodzinski had an NHL career-high 19 points (six goals, 13 assists), averaging 11:08 TOI in 57 games last season. He held down the position until Alex Wennberg was acquired before the NHL trade deadline.
You know what you get with Brodzinski, which isn’t a bad thing. But he’s a far cry from Chytil, as are the other options within the organization.
Bo Groulx
Bo Groulx leads the Hartford Wolf Pack with 10 points in 12 games this season and is second with five goals. The 24-year-old has 65 games of NHL experience — exactly 100 fewer than Brodzinski — after he was a second-round pick (No. 54 overall) by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2018 NHL Draft.
He’s scored only one goal in the NHL, and had two assists in 45 games with the Ducks last season. But he’s responsible defensively and did score 18 goals in the AHL two seasons ago.
Groulx could be a third-line option, or slot in as the extra forward if Brodzinski replaces Chytil in the lineup.
Matt Rempe
This isn’t exactly an answer on the third line, but Matt Rempe could be recalled from Hartford to fill the extra forward spot assuming Brodzinski’s on the third line. It’d be a natural fit since Rempe doesn’t require waivers to move up and down and already made the team out of training camp after exploding on the NHL scene late last season.
Rempe’s not exactly an option to play center in the NHL yet, but he could slot in from time to time on the wing if Adam Edstrom’s game slips on the fourth line or if some extra heft is needed in the lineup. Of course, the flip side of doing this is that Rempe needs to play — he’s getting top-six minutes in all situations with Hartford now — so the 22-year-old sitting in the press box in New York is not ideal.
Alex Belzile
Alex Belzile — courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
Largely a career minor leaguer, Alex Belzile could be recalled from Hartford to be the extra forward. He leads the Wolf Pack with six assists and has seven points total. Like Groulx, he’d require waivers if sent down again, but unlike Groulx, he’s not a center. SO, that limits the options with Belzile.
The 33-year-old did score six goals and total 14 points in 31 games with the Montreal Canadiens in 2022-23. However, he’s played only 44 NHL games in his 13-year career that began in the ECHL.
Not likely: Brett Berard, Dylan Roobroeck and Bryce McConnell-Barker
These three youngsters need to hone their games in Hartford, not sit in NHL press boxes. Dylan Roobroeck and Bryce McConnell-Barker are centers, and each has played well so far this season in the AHL. But each is a rookie pro and not capable of being a No. 3 center on a Stanley Cup contender.
Berard would be a more compelling option if he played center. But he’s a wing, albeit one with a Hartford-best six goals after leading the Wolf Pack with 25 last season.
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