CALGARY, Alberta — Filip Chytil made it just in time to join the Rangers for the second half of their West Coast swing in Canada, but the Czech center’s status still is up in the air.
The 25-year-old did not participate in the Blueshirts’ morning skate Thursday ahead of their game against the Flames at the ScotiaBank Saddledome.
Nevertheless, Chytil skated with the extras following the team practice.
Filip Chytil is attended to following a collision with K’Andre Miller during the Rangers’ 3-2 win over the Sharks on Nov. 14, 2024.
“He’s day-to-day,” head coach Peter Laviolette said before the Rangers’ 3-2 loss to the Flames, declining to say whether Chytil would play against the Oilers on Saturday.
It’s an encouraging sign that Chytil was cleared both to fly and get back on the ice, but it appears the Rangers are understandably in no rush to plug No. 72 back into the lineup.
Chytil was examined by specialists in New York after a scary collision with K’Andre Miller along the half wall in the Sharks game last week.
Doctors ruled that he did not suffer a concussion, which is what sidelined Chytil for 72 of 82 regular season games in 2023-24, as he endured what is believed to be the fourth such injury of his eight-year NHL career.
The chances of Chytil playing in Edmonton are certainly higher, especially given the Rangers presumably wouldn’t have flown him out unless they wanted him to play.
Filip Chytil (left)and K’Andre Miller collide during the second period of the Rangers’ win over the Sharks.
Otherwise, Chytil could’ve been resting further in New York ahead of his next game, though Chytil probably wanted to be around the team, anyway.
The Rangers’ third-line center was off to a strong start, anchoring the team’s most consistent unit alongside Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko.
Jonny Brodzinski has been filling in for Chytil in that spot, which the veteran forward continued to occupy in Thursday night’s 3-2 loss to the Flames.
