New York Rangers get ‘good’ report on injured Filip Chytil
The New York Rangers open their season next week by visiting the Buffalo Sabres on October 12. Before doing so, they will take on the New Jersey Devils tonight and the Boston Bruins tomorrow to close out the preseason.
They will be playing those exhibition games with one of their key forwards still out of action.
Filip Chytil has played just one preseason contest, the team’s first in Boston, on September 24. Since that time, he’s been listed as day-to-day due to an upper-body injury, with no specifics as to what’s ailing him for weeks.
On Wednesday, there was some positive news on Chytil, as he’s been skating on his own and inching closer to a return.
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Rangers get good news on Filip Chytil
“The reports this morning were really good,” Laviolette revealed to reporters. “He had a really good skate and workout with the coaches this morning. We’re just progressing in the right direction.”
When pressed on whether or not Chytil would be ready to start the season, Laviolette was hesitant to give a definitive answer.
“The way that the training staff works, they’ll hand him back at some point and he’ll enter into practice,” he stated. “When he does do that, we’ll look for good reps. I’m hoping that’ soon and makes it out of it well.”
Chytil, 24, is coming off a career season by scoring 22 goals, 23 assists, for 45 points in 74 games. This will be the centers sixth full season in the league after playing 9 games with the Rangers in 2017-18.
For me, it’s about how good I can be and push myself everyday,” Chytil said at the start of camp. “I know I can score goals… I worked all summer on my shot. I believe it was just a good start for me last year and I need to build on that and be even better. I have big confidence in myself and in my abilities. It’s going to be fun.”
The Rangers selected Chytil 21st overall in 2017 and have been patiently waiting for him to emerge into the high-scoring center they drafted. Over the past few seasons, Chytil has learned to use his 6-2′, 204 lbs frame to his advantage. His size and strength are evident, especially when he’s protecting the puck or getting into prime scoring areas. It’s all been slowly coming together, and appears to have culiminated last year.
New York rewarded Chytil for his efforts with a four-year contract extension back on March 29 at an AAV of $4.4375 million. In hindsight, that deal could be one of the best-valued contracts on the team if he continues his upward trajectory.
When he eventually returns to action, Chytil will battle Vincent Trocheck for the second line center spot and an opportunity to play with Artemi Panarin.
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