After a below par preseason, the Rangers appear to be giving up on promoting Filip Chytil into the second line center position. Chytil practiced today on the third line wing, and early drew remarks from coach David Quinn that suggested the bench boss was not happy with what he’d seen so far from the young Czech.
Chytil’s loss looks to be Ryan Strome‘s gain, with last year’s early-season trade acquisition slotting in as a utility answer to perhaps one of the Rangers biggest questions going into opening night. Alternatively the team could look to promote one of their other young forwards in Brett Howden or Lias Andersson, or go the veteran route with Vladislav Namestnikov.
For the 20 year old Chytil, it represents a missed opportunity to stake his claim. After being drafted 21st overall in the 2017 draft, he quickly surpassed his higher drafted team mate Lias Andersson in the depth chart, and earned an 8 game trial in his draft year. Last season he made 75 appearances, scoring his first five NHL goals in consecutive games. Unfortunately he was unable to sustain what appeared to be a real breakout, and only managed to break a 20 game goalless drought in the final game of the season, where he registered his 11th of the year.
There’s still plenty of time for Chytil to step up, after all the opening night roster sees a lot of turnover year to year, if not during the season. But Chytil’s chance to get the first shot appears to have passed, and he will seemingly need to prove himself on the wing.
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