New York Rangers center is unlikely to play again this season due to his latest concussion.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday,head coach shared that he is experiencing both good and bad days, prompting the team to take a cautious approach.
“He’ll skate one day and feel fine, but then not feel as good the next,” coach explained. “Will he play again this season? Maybe, but the odds are against it. We don’t want to put him in that situation.”
He suffered the concussion on March 15 after being checked from behind by Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson late in a 6-2 Canucks victory. The 25-year-old has not practiced or played since, and Vancouver has gone 3-3-2 in his absence.
His history of head injuries, particularly during his eight seasons with the Rangers, makes this latest concussion even more concerning. Last season, he missed the final 72 regular-season games due to a concussion, and an attempted return in January was cut short after he suffered a setback, believed to be another head injury.
When asked if Chytil’s career could be in jeopardy, Tocchet remained hopeful.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I spoke with him today, and he said this concussion feels different—his bad days aren’t as bad. That’s a positive. Plus, he has four or five months to recover.”
Chytil, who was acquired by Vancouver in the J.T. Miller trade on January 31, has struggled with the Canucks, recording six points (two goals, four assists) with a minus-11 rating in 15 games. Before his injury, he had gone six straight games without a point.
Prior to the trade, he played 41 games with the Rangers, tallying 11 goals and 20 points while averaging 14:20 of ice time. His minutes increased in Vancouver, but his production declined.
Like the Rangers, the Canucks are in a tough playoff race. Vancouver (34-27-13) is 10th in the Western Conference, trailing the St. Louis Blues by six points for the final wild-card spot with eight games left. The Rangers (35-32-7) are in a better position in the East, tied in points with the Montreal Canadiens, though Montreal holds the second wild-card spot with a game in hand.
The Canucks have also been dealing with other injuries, missing Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander since March 22, as well as starting goaltender Thatcher Demko for most of the season due to a knee issue. Star defenseman Quinn Hughes has also missed time.
Chytil began the season strong with the Rangers, centering the third line, but that unit has since been dismantled. Only Will Cuylle remains, while Kaapo Kakko was traded to Seattle in December and Chytil was sent to Vancouver.
If his season is indeed over, Chytil will finish with 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 56 games between the Rangers and Canucks—his second-highest career total, behind his 45-point breakout campaign in 2022-23.