Miller, now the Rangers’ captain, scored an empty-net goal against the Canucks at Madison Square Garden nearly two months after the trade, on March 22. He returns to Rogers Arena on Tuesday for the first time since the Canucks dealt him to the Rangers, amid his bitter dispute — not with the team but with Vancouver’s star center Elias Pettersson.

Considering that Miller played 440 games with the Canucks and had his three best seasons with them, including 103 points in 2023-24, his homecoming is a big deal. That’s true no matter how Miller might try to downplay the significance leading up to puck drop.

Outside of the “what could have been” feel for the Canucks and their fans Tuesday, there’s another melancholy subplot to this reunion.

Filip Chytil won’t be in the Canucks lineup. Again. The key player sent to Vancouver in that trade last season won’t face his former team Tuesday because Chytil is on IR with an unspecified injury after Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals laid him out with an open-ice hit more than a week ago.

Remember, Chytil missed his Garden homecoming in March because he was on IR then, too, with a concussion.

Again.

It’s frightening how many head injuries Chytil has sustained in nine NHL seasons. He’s still only 26 years old, with plenty of life ahead of him. But you can’t help but fear what his future holds — and what kind of toll all these injuries will take on him.

Chytil sounded upbeat about his health and the upcoming season in a series of interviews in September. He scored two goals in the Canucks’ season opener and had three in five games until another hard hit in Game 6 sent to him to the IR. Again.

It’s worth keeping Chytil in mind and in your prayers when tuning in to the Rangers-Canucks game Tuesday.

New York Rangers news and analysis

John Kreiser breaks down an important week for the Rangers, with three road games, beginning in Vancouver on Tuesday.

And we address an important question: Have the Rangers hit rock bottom after that ugly 5-1 loss to the last-overall Calgary Flames on Sunday?

Jackson Dorrington is a hard-hitting defenseman prospect for the Rangers, who’s finding his stride with their AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack. That’s part of this week’s update from Hartford in Ricky Milliner’s latest AHL column.

NHL news and rumors

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dan Kingerski details how Sidney Crosby became the ninth player in NHL history to reach 1,700 points. Sid is just 22 behind Mario Lemieux for the most in Pittsburgh Penguins history — and eighth all-time in the NHL.

TSN: Former Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Kesler pled not guilty to two counts of criminal sexual misconduct in Michigan.

Sportsnet: Eric Engels put together an excellent article about Montreal Canadiens stud rookie Ivan Demidov, based on several pointed questions he asked of respected NHL scouts. Interestingly, several of them compared Demidov to retired Detroit Red Wings great Pavel Datsyuk.

Sportsnaut: Need more Demidov? Here’s a breakdown of the rookie’s impact on the Canadiens power play, courtesy of Marc Dumont.

Florida Hockey Now: Can it get any worse for the Florida Panthers? George Richards reports that the injury-ravaged defending Stanley Cup champions will also be without Brad Marchand (death in family) and Jonah Gadjovich (undisclosed injury) when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

Daily Faceoff: So, what’s next for Matt Coronato after the Calgary Flames scratched the skilled forward against the Rangers on Sunday night?

NHL.com: Dave McCarthy reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs are “pumped” to have Joseph Woll back at practice, after he took a personal leave of absence Sept. 23. Woll is eligible to come off LTIR on Saturday, and general manager Brad Treliving said there’s a good chance the goalie will be game-ready by then.

New Jersey Hockey Now: David Pagnotta told James Nichols on the Devils Rink Report podcast that the Devils and goalie Jacob Markstrom paused contract negotiations so that the veteran can focus on rehabbing an injury. Talks will continue soon as Markstrom is making strides on his return to the lineup,

Chytil hasn’t played since he was leveled by a Tom Wilson open-ice hit in the first period of Vancouver’s 4-3 road win against the Washington Capitals this past Sunday. The 26-year-old is on injured reserve with an unspecified issue. However, with his lengthy history of concussions, another head injury is feared.

“Obviously, [we’re going] through the protocols here. He’s been home [in Vancouver]. He left with our doctor from Washington on Monday, so he’s making progress, but obviously [has] not cleared,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin explained Friday. “You’ve gotta’ go through all the stages here [with] where he is, but it’s been some encouraging progress here.”

Chytil’s next game in the NHL will be his 400th. He has three goals in six games with the Canucks this season.

Tom Wilson lays a heavy hit on Filip Chytil.

Chytil went to the dressing room, and after review, there was no penalty on the play. pic.twitter.com/PticaE7LUo

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 19, 2025

This is the second IR stint for Chytil since the Canucks acquired him Jan. 31 in the J.T. Miller trade with the Rangers. Chytil sustained a concussion in mid-March after Jason Dickinson checked him from behind in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Though he skated with the team late in the season, Chytil didn’t play another game in 2024-25. However, Chytil was upbeat and cautiously optimistic heading into this season following a healthy summer back home in Czechia.

“Knock on wood, I feel very good and feel very positive,” Chytil told the 100% Canucks Podcast.

These latest health issues, of course, follow a slew of head injuries he sustained in eight seasons playing for the Rangers. That includes 2023-24, when he was limited to 10 regular-season games due to a concussion and a relapse during his recovery.

Canucks acquire Lukas Reichel with ex-Rangers center Filip Chytil sidelined

With Chytil out indefinitely, and Teddy Blueger week to week with an unspecified injury, the Canucks acquired Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Allvin explained that Reichel could get a look at center with Chytil and Blueger out, though he’s almost exclusively played on the wing in 174 NHL games with the Blackhawks. The 22-year-old has four points (two goals, two assists) in five games this season, and set career highs in goals (eight), assists (14), points (22), and game played (70) last season.

The Canucks are 4-4-0 this season, heading into a home game Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. With the injuries, the Canucks have been very thin down the middle behind No. 1 center Elias Pettersson.

Vancouver needs more from Pettersson, who’s scored just one goal in eight games this season. The Canucks are tied for 25th in the NHL, averaging 2.63 goals for per game.

The Rangers visit the Canucks on Tuesday, as part of their current four-game road trip.

Seriously, these unis are legit. That shade of blue? The clean, classic look? Love everything about the centennial threads, especially how they look on the players during games.

And Monday night at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers will wear the new sweaters again when they host the Minnesota Wild. It’s a centennial theme night at MSG, celebrating the “Birth of a Franchise Era,” from 1926-42.

GAME DAY. pic.twitter.com/KwAK5nr5z6

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 20, 2025

Hard to believe that the Rangers won three Stanley Cup championships during that span. Actually, it’s more difficult to fathom that there’s only been one Cup title for the Rangers since 1940. That’s not an easy thing to do — to win only one championship in 85 years.

But let’s not muddy the waters here. Enjoy the centennial celebration Monday. Enjoy those awesome sweaters. And, maybe, even enjoy a goal or two (finally) by the Rangers on home ice after a historic dry spell with three straight shutout losses at Madison Square Garden to begin the home schedule this season.

New York Rangers news and analysis

No excuses for the Rangers not to score plenty of goals nor rack up standings points with their soft schedule this week. Our John Kreiser breaks it all down.

How about Matthew Robertson? The rookie defenseman scored his first NHL goal Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, and is making a case to be a long-term answer for the Rangers on the blue line.

ICYMI: Here are our key Rangers takeaways from that come-from-behind 4-3 win in Montreal.

NHL news and rumors

Forever Blueshirts: Former Rangers center Filip Chytil didn’t return to the Vancouver Canucks’ 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals after receiving a massive open-ice hit from Tom Wilson in the first period. With Chytil’s concussion history, there are plenty of concerns for his health once again.

In case anyone was wondering, there will be no supplementary discipline for this play

Hopefully, Chytil is okay. He's battled so many injuries https://t.co/9hPWOFrk6I

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 20, 2025

NHL.com: Terrific exclusive by Amalie Benjamin, who got Brad Marchand on the phone to look ahead to his return to Boston for the first time as a member of the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

TSN: In case you’re wondering, Marchand is still Marchand, no matter what team he plays for. The veteran forwards was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for unsportsmanlike conduct after he took the helmet of Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin to the penalty box with him and ripped the straps off.

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman reports that the Ottawa Senators offered red-hot forward Shane Pinto an eight-year contract extension, but a deal’s yet to be finalized.

Daily Faceoff: Some thoughts shared here on what Martin Necas’ short- and/or long-term future is with the Colorado Avalanche.

Detroit Hockey Now: You know who’s playing some real good hockey? The Detroit Red Wings. They won their fifth game in a row Sunday, 4-2 over the Edmonton Oilers. But Bob Duff details the big challenge ahead that awaits the Red Wings.

Sportsnet: In case you missed it, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz called out his teammates following a 4-3 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night, saying “we kind of let them walk al over us.”

New Jersey Hockey Now: Connor Brown is already proving to be a solid offseason pick up by the New Jersey Devils, and James Nichols gets the lowdown from the forward on how he was “strategic” in his approach to choosing a new team in free agency.

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.

You hate to see this for Filip Chytil. Needs help leaving the ice.

The head injuries continue to pile up. pic.twitter.com/ciWHX6zU99

— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) October 19, 2025

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.

Victor Mancini and Brandon Duhaime drop the gloves 🥊 pic.twitter.com/U8zQ5u0Z1j

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 19, 2025

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.

The 25-year-old defenseman played a game-high 31 shifts, tied for second on the Hurricanes with four shots on goal, and was credited with two hits in 19:10 TOI.

“I thought he was exceptional,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said postgame. “Take the goals away even — just impactful.”

One of us!
One of us!
One of us! pic.twitter.com/K7B8bhKsPn

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 10, 2025

What made his performance stand out even more is that this was Miller’s first game of any kind since mid-April with the Rangers, when he helped them defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning to close out an extremely disappointing season.

Miller had surgery in May for an undisclosed injury and didn’t play at all in the preseason with his new team. Only recently was he cleared for contact at practice.

But he jumped right in, paired with Jalen Chatfield on the blue line, and looked the part of the exceptional player the Hurricanes raved about after picking him up from the Rangers.

“Obviously, I didn’t have any preseason games, so this was kind of my real first look with the team. I think once I got adjusted and up to the speed of the game, I felt great. It was fun,” Miller said.

✔️ First #Canes game
✔️ First #Canes goal

Welcome to Raleighwood, Key! pic.twitter.com/qrkCIfWeWR

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 10, 2025

Miller snuck a quick shot through some traffic, off the post, and in to give Carolina a 2-1 lead at 9:23 of the second period. Then, after New Jersey’s Cody Glass tied things up, Miller scored again to make it 3-2, hammering a power-play slap shot off Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom and into the cage 10:21 into the third period. It was his the third two-goal in the NHL.

So, this guy is fitting in nicely pic.twitter.com/aDmiwsHeA6

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 10, 2025

Asked if he was surprised that first one got past Markstrom, Miller laughed.

“Yeah. Totally.”

Ex-Rangers center Filip Chytil healthy again, scores twice for Canucks to begin season

Miller wasn’t the only former member of the Rangers core to score a twice in his season debut Thursday. Filip Chytil netted a pair of goals for the Vancouver Canucks in their 5-1 home win against the Calgary Flames.

FIL-THY FINISH pic.twitter.com/nAWtBxrQf3

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 10, 2025

The Rangers traded Chytil to the Canucks on Jan. 31 as part of the package to land J.T. Miller, who’s now their captain. Like K’Andre Miller (No. 22 overall in 2018), Chytil (No. 21 overall in 2017) was a first-round pick by the Rangers, whom general manager Chris Drury ultimately deemed expendable.

Chytil’s injury history was his biggest issue in New York. And his fresh start in Vancouver last season was ruined by yet another head injury.

But Chytil’s healthy again, and the 26-year-old center started this season in style with the seventh two-goal game of his NHL career. Chytil, who was named the game’s First Star, scored at 2:54 and 8:53 of the third period, extending Vancouver’s lead from 1-0 to 3-0.

Chytil doubles the #Canucks lead ✌️ pic.twitter.com/uLDhip8Gxg

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 10, 2025

Chytil said he’d enjoy this one “until midnight” and then get back to work with the Canucks, “plenty of things to improve on.”

Canucks coach Adam Foote was equally as measured with his postgame comments about Chytil’s performance.

“He was good. He looked fast. He didn’t look nervous. He looked like he wanted the puck on his stick and that he wanted to play hockey.”

Chris Kreider was held off the score sheet in his debut with the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Kreider had one shot on goal, two hits, and logged 16:49 TOI in a 3-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken.

Former Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren was up to his familiar tricks, blocking a game-high six shots and playing more than 21 minutes in his first game with the Kraken after signing with them as a free agent this summer.

It’s the road to recovery after sustaining a head-related injury.

So, when discussing his current health status recently after his 2024-25 season was cut short by a concussion, Chytil wasn’t shy about using a well-worn cliche.

“Knock on wood, I feel very good and feel very positive,” Chytil told the 100% Canucks Podcast.

Forgive the soon-to-be 26-year-old if he’s a bit cautious and superstitious when it comes to his health. Not even a change of scenery to the Pacific Northwest changed his luck for the better after the Rangers traded Chytil to the Canucks in late January.

It took just six weeks before Chytil was injured again. Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson checked him from behind, causing Chytil’s head to whiplash as he fell to the ice. Chytil missed the final 16 games of the season with an injury he explained was “more about my neck” than a concussion, per se.

Filip Chytil checking in from the Player Media Tour in Milan! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/OX9ghid8dN

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) August 22, 2025

Five months after sustaining that latest injury, Chytil believes he’s in a good place physically.

“Great, I feel great,” Chytil said. “I said it at the end of the season that i feel I was ready to go offseason. I was very happy that I finished the season with the guys on the ice for a couple of practices.

“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.”

Related: NHL offseason grades for Rangers, Metropolitan Division rivals

Filip Chytil reflects on time with Rangers, what lies ahead with Canucks

As he’s done throughout his eight-year NHL career, Chytil is working out this summer with his brother. His intent is to “get better on the ice and protect me from injuries on the ice.”

Though he didn’t share specifics, Chytil clearly is aiming for his first healthy season since 2022-23, when he set NHL career-highs with 22 goals, 23 assists and 45 points in 74 games with the Rangers. His goal is to land a spot in Vancouver’s top-six forward group, something that escaped him in New York, where he was primarily a third-line pivot.

“In New York, we always had great centermen ahead of me. And even when I finally jumped ahead of one of them and even was on top line … the injury came again. I always fell back to the third center position,” Chytil explained.

Filip chytil sign of life, our 2c getting stronger 💪🏻 #Canucks pic.twitter.com/0uG1nSkdPO

— Petey's hairline (@Canucks_Enjoyer) July 22, 2025

Never was that more true than in 2023-24, when Chytil began the season centering a line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. That lasted 10 games before he sustained a serious head injury in early November, and later had a relapse in his recovery. Chytil missed the rest of the regular season — 72 games — before he appeared in six postseason games that spring.

“Even (that) season when I missed the whole year, I started as a second center, I played a lot, and then the biggest injury of my career,” he said.

Chytil’s going to get a chance to play a bigger role with the Canucks this upcoming season. Elias Pettersson remains the Canucks No. 1 center, but Chytil is the clear No. 2 on the depth chart. In 15 games with the Canucks last season, Chytil averaged a career-high 16:42 TOI. That was two minutes more on average than his 41 games with the Rangers earlier in the season.

Though he scored a goal in Canucks debut on Feb. 2 against the Detroit Red Wings, Chytil managed just six points (two goals, four assists) in 15 games before the injury ended his season prematurely.

Chytil, who got married this summer, is confident that he will produce offensively for the Canucks this season. That is, of course, if he remains healthy.

“Everything depends on my health right now,” Chytil stated candidly. “I know what I can do and I will do everything to help make our team make the playoffs again, and make it a successful season for us.

“But I need to focus on my health, as well.”

Yet despite their having played only 30 combined NHL games, the Rangers will be counting on a significant step forward from Brennan Othmann and/or Gabe Perreault in 2025-26. Without that happening, chances are the depth problems up front that have plagued the Blueshirts for the past few seasons will continue to drag them down.

The two first-round draft picks are young. Othmann is 22 and Perreault is just 20; he played five games with the Rangers at the end of last season after turning pro following the conclusion of Boston College’s season. Neither has scored an NHL goal, and only Othmann has recorded a point; he had two assists in his 22 games on Broadway last season.

The Rangers, however, need a lot more from both players — and in short order.

Related: Are the Rangers’ offseason moves over, or is the real work just beginning?

Mike Sullivan might look to form another Kid Line

The Blueshirts have less than $800,000 salary-cap space remaining, according to Puckpedia, after taking care of offseason business, which was highlighted by the signing of free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and the re-upping of young forwards Will Cuylle, Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom and Juuso Parssinen — along with the necessary trade of defenseman K’Andre Miller. Despite all of that, the bottom-six forward corps will again be a giant question mark going into the new season. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the third line, which has the potential to remain a season-long puzzle.

Depending on what new coach Mike Sullivan sees at training camp, the fourth line could again be a good one. Sullivan could easily stay the course set by predecessor Peter Laviolette and employ the Twin Towers alignment with Rempe and Edstrom flanking veteran center Sam Carrick. That would keep together the huge, physical trio that forechecks, battles in the corners and in front of the net, and mixes it up with opponents while setting a tone the Rangers so desperately crave.

Where Sullivan seems sure to be challenged like the coaches that preceded him on Broadway is in attempting to forge a productive third line — one with identity and purpose that can get the best of its matchups on a regular basis.

If Sullivan succeeds, it will be impressive. The assignment has amounted to a revolving door for forwards since Gerard Gallant put together the “Kid Line” of Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil late in the 2021-22 season. The Rangers haven’t come close to duplicating that level of effectiveness on their third line since.

With Othmann and Perreault in the fold, maybe Kid Line 2.0 — with Parssinen, 24, possibly in the middle — is exactly what Sullivan should be looking for from the unit this season.

In a familiar refrain, the Rangers don’t have many options to build out the line beyond their promising youth. Veteran free-agent add Taylor Raddysh doesn’t exactly generate buzz. Old friend Jonny Brodzinski is still around and is coming off a career-best 12-goal season. The hard truth, though, is that if Brodzinski is playing a significant number of games, it’s because the Blueshirts don’t have higher-level talent to take those minutes.

Othmann, who’s facing the biggest opportunity of his young career, represents one of those higher-level talent options. The 16th player taken in the 2021 NHL Draft looked good at times last season and seemed to gain confidence as his ice time increased. Even better, he plays the style that general manager Chris Drury and the front office are trying to instill throughout the organization: Othmann’s chip-on-his-shoulder, straight-ahead approach manifests itself in a player who attacks the net and pressures the puck all over the ice.

In theory, it’s his time to grab a wing spot on the third line. Rangers fans have been eagerly awaiting Othmann’s arrival as a regular since 2021-22, when he piled up 97 points in 66 games for the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League.

Othmann almost certainly won’t approach that level of production in the NHL. However, his throwback style and obvious offensive skills should give him the chance to begin making an impact this season — if, of course, he can win the job the Rangers presumably want him to win.

Related: Vincent Trocheck viewed as most likely to slot in at 3C on Rangers roster: poll

Rangers hope to see Gabe Perreault play his way into the lineup

While the Rangers wouldn’t be upset if Perreault appears better-suited to starting the season at Hartford, their AHL farm team, after training camp, they also wouldn’t be upset if he plays his way onto the big club. Perreault profiles as a future top-six forward because of his skills and offensive creativity.

Perreault might just prove ready for such an assignment as soon as this season, and if Sullivan decides to move Mika Zibanejad back to the middle from the right-wing spot he appeared to embrace late last season, Perreault could receive a training-camp audition for the plum job. More likely, though, is that the 23rd overall pick in 2023 — who many talent evaluators felt was only selected that low because of the loaded nature of that draft — could start his NHL journey by joining Othmann as part of the third-unit solution.

After all, this path has worked for the Rangers multiple times in recent years. Lafreniere eventually graduated from the third line to what became the unquestioned top unit for the 2023-24 season, teaming with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck on one of the most productive lines in the league. Lafreniere delivered 28 goals and 29 assists that season, though he took a serious step back in 2024-25 and will need to regain what looked like an upward trend to his career.

Cuylle made the leap last season after spending a good part of 2023-24 on the third line, becoming a top-six mainstay and turning in a 20-goal, 25-assist, 301-hit effort. He’s expected to remain fully ensconced on one of the top forward units again this season.

The Rangers would certainly love to see marked development from Othmann and Perreault with an eye toward the future, more or less following Cuylle’s path, but they also need it for the present. The Blueshirts’ hopes of returning to the postseason and championship contention depends in large part on whether they can match the depth of their competitors in the Eastern Conference. With their minimal cap space, it’s hard to see a realistic avenue to substantially improving their bottom six from outside the organization.

That means the kids are going to carry the weight of some pressure to produce in 2025-26. There are other potential youngsters who could make an impact, of course — Brett Berard, Noah Laba, Casey Terrance and Adam Sykora, among others, might surprise by competing for a spot on the roster at some point this season.

But Othmann and Perreault are the ones who possess the first-round pedigrees. Given that, it’s probably fair for the Rangers to begin to expect more from at least Othmann, and perhaps Perreault, sooner rather than later.

Reportedly just five weeks after the Rangers moved the 2017 first-round pick, Chytil was nearly flipped by the Canucks to the Ottawa Senators as part of a package to land center Josh Norris.

“The Canucks were pretty close on Josh Norris with the Ottawa Senators at the time. It would’ve been Filip Chytil and it would’ve been a draft pick that would’ve gone the way of the Ottawa Senators,” NHL insider Darren Dreger told the Sekeres and Price podcast this week. “I don’t know why that came unglued. I know at the time that was a player (then Canucks coach) Rick Tocchet really liked. Fit the system, the style of play, can skate. All of those things.”

Ultimately, the Senators did trade Norris, just not to the Canucks. They moved him right before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7 along with defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Buffalo Sabres for center Dylan Cozens, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and a second-round pick in the 2025 draft.

When Chytil was acquired from the Rangers as part of the return for J.T. Miller, he was excited for the opportunity to be the second-line center behind Elias Pettersson. His ice-time with the Canucks increased by two minutes (to 16:42) from what he received as the third-line center with the Rangers, and Chytil got more of a chance to play on the power play, too.

Chytil scored a goal in his Canucks debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 2 and had five points (one goals, four assists) in his first seven games after the trade. Yet, despite the positive reviews from Tocchet and Co., it appears behind the scenes the Canucks were looking to use Chytil to make an upgrade at 2C.

Norris had 20 goals in 53 games heading into the trade deadline and scored 35 goals for the Senators in 2021-22. Chytil set NHL career highs with 22 goals, 23 assists and 45 points in 2022-23 and had 11 goals and 20 points in 41 games before the Rangers shipped him off to Vancouver.

Related: Rangers reportedly in ‘advanced discussions’ with Ducks about Chris Kreider trade

Filip Chytil played just 15 games after being traded by Rangers due to concussion

Despite not being traded again before the deadline, Chytil’s season still took a sideways turn. Chytil sustained a concussion in a game against the the Chicago Blackhawks on March 15 and didn’t play again the rest of the season. Chytil had one point (goal) in his final eight games and finished with six points (two goals, four assists) in 15 games with the Canucks.

Reportedly Chytil was feeling better by the end of the season, even though the Canucks were cautious with the 25-year-old and continued to hold him out of the lineup because of his prior history with head injuries. Chytil had several concussions with the Rangers, and played only 10 regular-season games in 2023-24 due to a frightening head injury.

So, Chytil is once again dealing with familiar health issues this offseason, compounded by the fact it appears the Canucks tried to trade him mere weeks after acquiring him. It’d appear that the Canucks view him now as a 3C because there are rumors swirling that they’re shopping for a better 2C this summer.

“William Karlsson is probably on the Bingo card if Vegas is willing to part with him. He’d probably be on the card for a lot of teams around the NHL because there are a lot of teams in the market for centers, including, of course, the Vancouver Canucks, who have a pretty significant hunger for that position,” Dreger explained.

Like the Rangers, the Canucks surprisingly missed the playoffs this past season and have a new coach. Adam Foote replaced Tocchet, who stepped down and moved on to become coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said that Chytil is having “good days and bad days” so the organization doesn’t want to put him in harm’s way and is erring on the side of caution.

“He’ll go out and skate, feel good, next day, not as good, so, to be honest, does he play this year? Maybe. The odds are against it, plus you don’t want to put a guy in that type of position,” Tocchet told reporters. “When a guy has good days and bad days, obviously, you’re not going to play the guy.”

Chytil sustained a concussion when checked from behind by Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson late in the third period of a 6-2 Canucks win at home on March 15. The 25-year-old hasn’t practiced with the Canucks since, much less played in a game. The Canucks are 3-3-2 in his absence.

His history of head injuries during eight seasons with the Rangers is well chronicled, and troublesome when considering his latest concussion. Chytil missed the final 72 regular-season games a year ago because of a concussion. His original comeback was short-circuited in January, when he sustained a setback, believed to be another concussion or head injury.

Tocchet was asked if he believes Chytil’s career is in jeopardy and tried to sound positive.

“I don’t know,” the coach replied. “I talked to him today, and he says it was different than his last concussion; the bad days aren’t as bad, so that’s a positive. I think we’ve got to take the positive approach; plus, he’s got four or five months to rehabilitate himself.”

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Former Rangers center Filip Chytil could miss rest of season with concussion

Chytil has six points (two goals, four assists) and is minus-11 in 15 games with the Canucks after he was traded to them by the Rangers in the J.T. Miller acquisition on Jan. 31. He didn’t have a point in six games before the injury.

In 41 games with the Rangers this season, Chytil scored 11 goals and had 20 points, averaging 14:20 TOI. He averaged two minutes more of ice time with the Canucks, but his production was down since being acquired from the Rangers.

Like the Rangers, the Canucks (34-27-13) are on the outside looking in at the Stanley Cup Playoffs entering the final month of the regular season. Vancouver is 10th in the Western Conference, six points behind the red-hot St. Louis Blues for the second wild card, with one game in hand. The Canucks have eight games remaining on their schedule.

The Rangers (35-32-7) also have eight games to play, but are in a better spot in the Eastern Conference race for the second wild card. They are tied in points with the Montreal Canadiens, but Montreal is the second wild card having played one fewer game than New York.

Along with Chytil, the Canucks recently have been without injured forwards Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander, each of whom was hurt in a 5-3 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 22. They also played without No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko for most of the season due to knee issues and, star defenseman Quinn Hughes missed time as well.

Before he was traded to the Rangers, Miller missed 10 games with the Canucks due to a personal leave of absence.

Chytil arrived in Rangers training camp healthy and in great spirits, and had a very strong start to the season centering their third line. But the only player still with the Rangers from that line is Will Cuylle, who’s fourth on the team with 18 goals. Kaapo Kakko was traded to the Seattle Kraken for defenseman Will Borgen in December, and Chytil was shipped to Vancouver in late January.

If his season is over, Chytil will have finished with 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 56 games split between the Rangers and Canucks. As surprising as it may sound, that would be the second highest points total in his career, short of the 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists) he had in what was considered his breakout season in 2022-23.

“Some of my best friends are on that team,” Miller explained after practice Friday. “We’re getting dinner tonight, but once tomorrow comes it’s going to be a war, and I think we all understand that. We rather it’d be that way, it’s all business when we get out there.”

The Rangers host the Canucks in a Saturday matinee a Madison Square Garden. It’s the first game between the teams since Miller was traded to the Rangers by the Canucks on Jan. 31.

The 32-year-old center became an NHL star in Vancouver. He played there for six seasons after beginning his career with the Rangers and a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Miller had three 30-goal seasons with the Canucks, recorded an NHL career-high 103 points (37 goals, 66 assists) last season and 99 points (32 goals, 67 assists) in 2021-22.

This season was a difficult one for him, though. His production slipped, he took a 10-game leave of absence for personal reasons and had a very poor relationship with star center Elias Pettersson. In fact, so bad were things between the two, that Canucks president Jim Rutherford openly admitted how untenable the situation was, which certainly didn’t help either player’s trade value.

The Rangers re-acquired Miller — whom they selected in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft and traded to the Lightning on Feb. 26, 2018 — for a package that included a first-round draft pick and center Filip Chytil almost two months ago.

His exit doesn’t appear to have changed Miller’s feelings about Vancouver.

“I have nothing but great things,” Miller said. “I raised my three kids there. My wife and I have so many friends outside of the game [in Vancouver]. The amount of love in the city and the fans showed me while I was there is something I will never forget.

“It’s a great organization, a great place to play hockey, passionate fan base. They treated me with the utmost respect when I was there. I’m nothing but thankful for the opportunity.”

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J.T. Miller ready for ‘all business out there’ when Rangers host Canucks

After a fast start following the trade, Miller’s production has slowed down. It’s worth questioning if the weight of this season has taken a toll on him, coupled with his all-out effort in the 4 Nations Face-Off for Team USA and the burden of such high expectations coming to the Rangers.

Miller’s gone nine games without scoring a goal. He had five goals in the five previous games. He’s without a point during New York’s current three-game losing streak.

With the Rangers, Miller has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 20 games. All told this season in 60 games with the two teams, he has 53 points (16 goals, 37 assists).

When asked by a reporter if it felt like he needed a fresh start, Miller simply said, “Yep.”

That’s all in the past. What lies ahead is what’s important. That includes a reunion with his buddies Friday night and then an important game on opposite sides Saturday.

The Rangers (33-31-6) are 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points out of the second wild card. The Canucks (32-25-12) are ninth in the Western Conference, one point out of the second wild card.

“It’s all business when we get out there,” Miller stated. “They need points, too, we’re all in the same spot. We need to play well and we need to win the game.”