Filip Chytil’s tenure with the Rangers is a story of what could have been. Overshadowed by the Lias Andersson selection that same year, Chytil joined the Rangers as an 18 year old right out of his draft year and never looked back. The potential was clear, but injuries derailed a promising career in New York. Chytil’s final year was a solid one, forming one-third of a great third line that wasn’t kept together. Our Filip Chytil report card for this past season is symbolic of his injuries, a true case of what-if.
Like Kaapo Kakko, Chytil formed one-third of a solid third line along with Will Cuylle. This line was the only positive thing the Rangers had going for them as they tried to stay afloat, but broke them up to try to get Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad going. That singular decision didn’t destroy the season. The season was already lost. But it certainly didn’t help.
A pretty big concussion risk, the Rangers were hoping they could keep Chytil healthy. He put up a respectable 11-9-20 in 41 games, which is a 22-18-40 point season over 82 games. Like basically everyone else with a “meh” stat line, Chytil’s is more impressive when you realize he was getting third line minutes and almost no powerplay time. Most of his scoring came at 5v5. Yet he still finished 9th on the Rangers in goals scored over the full year, despite only playing half a season.
Good lord the Rangers were bad last year.
It doesn’t look like the Rangers planned on moving on from Chytil last year, but when an opportunity to land JT Miller came, the Rangers did not hesitate. Including Chytil in the deal–assuming Mika Zibanejad was never truly on the table–was the no-brainer and the only lock to be in the trade when the rumors flowed. In the end, the Rangers landed Miller for a bargain. Chytil put up 2-4-6 in 15 games with Vancouver before a dirty hit ended his season.
It felt like Chytil was a Ranger forever despite being just 25 years old at the time of his trade. Our Filip Chytil report card grade would be a lot higher if the Rangers simply kept that third line together. Instead they broke it up and traded two of the three guys on it. At least Chytil’s trade brought in a bonafide 1C.
Filip Chytil report card grade: B
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