Rangers' Filip Chytil ruled out for remainder of season

Filip Chytil #72 of the Rangers looks on during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on March 21, 2023. Credit: Getty Images
Rangers center Filip Chytil, who suffered a setback Friday in his attempt to return from what is believed to be a concussion, will not play again this season, the team said Sunday.
“Following a thorough evaluation of Filip Chytil after his recent setback from an upper body injury, it has been confirmed he will be out for the remainder of this season,’’ the team said in a statement released on its page on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The organization’s top priority throughout this process has been Filip’s health and we will continue to fully support him in his recovery with an aim to return for the 2024-25 season.’’
Although the Rangers have never confirmed that Chytil suffered a concussion — their policy is to report injuries only as “upper body’’ or “lower body’’ — it is believed the 24-year-old Czech has had multiple concussions.
He missed the last five games of the preseason with an upper-body injury, and it is believed he had at least two concussions last season.
After the Rangers’ announcement, Chytil posted a message on his Instagram page.
“It has been the hardest 3 months of my life and has not been easy for my family, closest people and of course for whole NY Rangers organization,’’ the message read. “But we gotta stay positive even in these tough moments and just think What is ahead of us! Thanks to you for all nice messages! I’ll come back stronger than ever!’’
Of course, it is not a given that Chytil will be able to return.
A first-round pick in 2017, he signed a four-year, $17.75 million contract extension last March that kicked in this season. He began the season as the Rangers’ No. 2 center between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere.
He was injured Nov. 2 against the Hurricanes after an inadvertent collision with Carolina forward Jesper Fast.
Chytil had no goals and six assists in 10 games. Last season he had career highs in goals (22) and assists (23).
The Rangers initially placed Chytil on regular injured reserve after he left the Nov. 2 game, meaning he would be out at least seven days.
Chytil began skating on his own sometime in mid-November, but at the end of the month, he was placed on long-term injured reserve, a move that would allow the Rangers to exceed the NHL’s $83.5 million salary cap by the amount of Chytil’s $4.43 million cap hit.
He continued to skate on his own, but during the next month-plus, he never progressed to the point that he could resume practicing with the team. Eventually, in the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, the Rangers allowed him go home to the Czech Republic, hoping that perhaps a change of scenery would help in the recovery process.
He returned to New York last Monday and skated with the team Thursday while wearing a red (no-contact) jersey.
But on Friday morning, while working at the Rangers’ optional morning skate before that night’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Chytil suffered a setback and had to be helped off the ice by his teammates who were skating with him, Jake Leschyshyn and Zac Jones.
The Rangers, who are in their bye week/All-Star break, don’t play again until next Monday, when they will host the Colorado Avalanche. They had hoped Chytil’s return would fill the hole at third-line center ever since he went down.
With the decision to shut him down for the season, general manager Chris Drury now can try to acquire a center to fill the hole. He can use the extra cap space afforded by Chytil’s salary.
A player such as Montreal’s Sean Monahan, 29, who has 13 goals and 35 points in 49 games for a still rebuilding Canadiens team, might be someone Drury could look at. He’s in the last year of his contract and carries a cap hit of $1.985 million.
Anaheim forward Adam Henrique (15 goals, 17 assists, plus-1 rating) is in the final year of his five-year, $29.125 million contract and might be a player to consider if he is willing to waive his no-move clause and the Ducks retain some of his salary in order to make it work. His age (he turns 34 on Feb. 6) might make him available for less of a return if the Ducks want to move him.