Fansided

Filip Chytil starring for the Hartford Wolf Pack

By Steve Paulus |
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 03: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 03: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 15: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on January 15, 2019 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 6-2. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 15: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on January 15, 2019 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 6-2. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The New York Rangers may be having some difficulties, but their top farm team, the Hartford Wolf Pack, are off to a great start with Filip Chytil one of the offensive leaders.

Filip Chytil was disappointed to be sent to the AHL at the end of training camp, but he is doing his best to convince the New York Rangers that he should be back in the big leagues.  The Wolf Pack won their fifth out of six games Saturday, defeating the Binghamton Devils 4-3 in overtime.

Chytil has three goals and five assists for eight points in six games with all of his points coming in the last five games.  He has a five game point scoring streak and has three goals in his last four games.  Not only is he scoring, but he is coming through in the clutch.   Two of his assists have come in overtime on game winning goals.  Against Binghamton, it was his late third period power play goal that tied the score to send the game into OT.

Here’s video of his goal last Sunday against Rochester.


Ranger fans will be happy to know that he is doing all of this at center as he is on a line with Phil Di Giuseppe at left wing and Vinni Lettieri at right wing.  Lettieri is benefiting from playing with Chytil as the proven AHL scorer has three goals and four assists.

Here is a clip of the Wolf Pack power play. Devils’ goalie Evan Cormier absolutely robs Chytil on the power play.


Chytil is tied for third in scoring in the AHL after Saturday’s action.  He leads the Wolf Pack with his five assists and eight points and he is second in shots with 20.  He is second in the league in plus/minus at +8.

Chytil isn’t the only baby Ranger excelling in Hartford.  The goaltender of the future is also doing pretty well.

HARTFORD, CT – OCTOBER 18: Puck slides away from Hartford Wolfpack goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) after he makes save as Hartford Wolfpack defenseman Vincent Loverde (26) closes in to clear puck during the Springfield Thunderbirds and Hartford Wolfpack AHL game on October 18, 2019, at XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT – OCTOBER 18: Puck slides away from Hartford Wolfpack goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) after he makes save as Hartford Wolfpack defenseman Vincent Loverde (26) closes in to clear puck during the Springfield Thunderbirds and Hartford Wolfpack AHL game on October 18, 2019, at XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Shesterkin excelling

One other interesting note is the progress of Igor Shesterkin.  He pitched a 1-0 shutout on Friday night against the Springfield Thunderbirds.  He was named first star of the game as  he stopped all 36 Springfield shots.  He is off to a tremendous start with a 3-0 record, a 1.34 goals against average and a scintillating save percentage of .952.  If he keeps this up, the Rangers will have some interesting decisions to make.

Video is hard to come by when it comes to the Wolf Pack, but here are highlights of the Springfield game.  Shesterkin makes a couple saves including one on a breakaway.  If you watch the clip you will also see Vitali Kravtsov get in the face of Owen Tippett, starting a scrum in the corner.

Hartford is one of four AHL teams to remain undefeated in regulation and they are in first place in the Atlantic Division. Their offense is clicking, but they are doing it with defense as their 2.17 goal against per game average is second best in the league.

The Wolf Pack’s schedule is as bizarre as the Rangers’ with six games in the first 20 days of the season (the Blueshirts play seven).  They are off until next Saturday when they begin a stretch of six games in nine days.  The question is with the Wolf Pack off until next weekend and with the Rangers playing two games in that time, do they bring Chytil up?

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