Whether Filip Chytil travels with the Rangers on their upcoming four-game road trip out west should give a pretty good indication of the severity of the Czech center’s injury.
That, and whether the 25-year-old is even on the ice when the Blueshirts return to practice Saturday at MSG Training Center ahead of their flight to Seattle.
Given Chytil’s extensive injury history, the Rangers are likely to play it safe regardless of the details.
There’s always a possibility Chytil will be on the ice and on the team plane Saturday, like Thursday night’s collision with K’Andre Miller along the left half boards never happened.
Filip Chytil (l.) collided with K’Andre Miller along the boards during the Rangers’ game on Nov. 15.
Filip Chytil (72) is pictured during the Rangers’ game against the Sharks on Nov. 14.
The way his last year or so has gone, however, has left everyone understandably wary.
Last season, the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy despite losing Chytil 10 games into the season after he was bumped by Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast and suffered what is believed to be the fourth concussion of his eight-year NHL career.
It was a grueling road to recovery, one that included a setback in January, a reset trip home to Czechia and an unstable run in the playoffs.
So when Chytil took just one 61-second shift following the collision Thursday night, before it became apparent he couldn’t finish the game and had to retreat back to the locker room, flashbacks to his struggles to stay on the ice last season came flooding back.
It’s difficult not to brace yourself for the worst when that’s been the usual outcome regarding this specific player.
If Chytil isn’t available for this four-game swing in Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton — or for the foreseeable future — Jonny Brodzinski will likely step in, as he did when Chytil went down last November.
The Rangers will presumably want to recall someone from the Hartford Wolf Pack to ensure they have an extra forward on the trip.
Word out of Hartford on Thursday night was that Brennan Othmann, who was projected to miss 4-6 weeks with an upper-body injury at the end of October, is now expected to be out likely until late December.
Despite playing in three of the Rangers’ first seven games, Matt Rempe hasn’t necessarily done anything with the Wolf Pack to warrant a call up.
So the club could go in a few different directions for their extra forward.
Filip Chytil skates during the Rangers’ loss to the Sabres on Nov. 7.
Jonny Brodzinski could replace Filip Chytil as the Rangers’ third-line center if Chytil misses time.
Brett Berard’s six goals entering the Wolf Pack’s game against the Charlotte Checkers lead the team.
It would be a chance for Berard to get some experience on the road with an NHL team, while also rewarding him for a strong training camp and start to the regular season.
If the Rangers wanted to stick with veterans they’re comfortable with, Alex Belzile or Anton Blidh would be the top options.
Brett Berard (65), pictured during a preseason game, could be an option for the Rangers to call up from AHL Hartford following Filip Chytil’s injury.
Or, if they wanted to go with a center, Jake Leschyshyn and his 14 games of experience with the Rangers would be considered, as well as Bo Groulx, who has centered the Wolf Pack’s top line and leads the club with 10 points.
The Rangers’ hope, however, is that this is all just hypothetical talk.
Losing Chytil, who has played with more energy and passion than anyone, could be a detriment to the team’s current state.
Though the Rangers should take solace in the fact that they figured it out without him once, they should be able to do it again — if need be.
