Filip Chytil’s potential top-six role on the New York Rangers

With the trade deadline looming, we analyze the possibility of Filip Chytil receiving an increased role on the New York Rangers and observe which areas of his game need to improve to be a top-six forward.

If the New York Rangers were to re-do the 2017 Entry Draft, it is almost certain that they would be giving Filip Chytil a long look at seventh overall, instead of selecting him 14 picks later.

The Czech forward has solidified himself as an important part of the team’s top-nine in only his second full season in the NHL, and he has seen brief moments of playing with stronger surrounding talent on the top-six.

Through 43 games, Chytil has nearly eclipsed his point total for the entirety of last season. With 12 goals and six assists, he is on-pace for just over 35 points.

Now, with the trade deadline looming and players like Ryan Strome — a staple in the top-six with Artemi Panarin —staring down the prospect of being dealt, there is an opportunity for Chytil’s role to increase, and it is a route the Rangers should take for the development of the young center.

Chytil’s dazzling offensive abilities, which have become more of a regular occurrence in his sophomore season, shows his worth on the offensive end of the puck; however, playing center — Chytil’s natural position — requires equal defensive effort and excellence, especially when lining up against other team’s top forwards.

Defense is at the top of the list of areas Chytil’s game needs to strengthen, alongside adding a playmaking element to his offensive repertoire and becoming a more consistent faceoff option.

These improvements and adjustments aren’t far-cries from reality. At only 20 years old and not turning 21 until September, he is still among the youngest players on the team, despite already playing over 125 games in the NHL.

To understand Chytil’s ability to improve, look no further than his mindset at the end of last season and after his demotion at the beginning of the 2019-2020 season. After a surprisingly underwhelming training camp, Chytil was sent down to the Hartford Wolf Pack — a decision that benefited his game because of the determination in his game to return to the NHL.

In his brief AHL stint, Chytil scored nine points in nine games and hasn’t looked back since.

During his time in the NHL this season, his game score has shown the expected bumps and dips a young center will experience, but he is improving his underlying defensive numbers.

His five-on-five corsi is at 48.1% through 43 games, which is an improvement from last year’s numbers. It indicates that Chytil is both generating more shots and also suppressing more than his rookie season.

Chytil’s stat line, like any forward, is also indicative of the players that surround him. While recently playing a majority of his time on the aptly-named “Diaper Line,” Chytil has been wedged between Kaapo Kakko and Brett Howden. Since both of those players are continuing to find their way in the NHL, it is not unexpected for Chytil’s assist total to be low at this point in the season.

However, if Chytil does get an opportunity to play with players like Panarin, he will have to demonstrate an ability to not only make space for himself in the offensive zone, but also find ways to feed the team’s top point-getter.

His viability in a top-six position is not only going to be dependent on his ability to finish offensively, but also on how he is able to facilitate offense in an increased role.

And, while Chytil has received more offensive-zone draws this year compared to his first season (54.4% vs. 49%), possession has been difficult to retain. His 37.8 faceoff percentage is well-below the other centers on the team and is an area of his game that will have to become far more consistent, especially as the Rangers eye more meaningful games in the upcoming years.

An improvement in the faceoff dot is not unprecedented, though. One-time Ranger Kevin Hayes had a 36.6 faceoff percentage in his first season before improving steadily to better than 50% in a season.

Chytil’s young career looks promising, and his positive mindset and mature ability to be accountable makes him more-and-more likely to reach his potential, which undoubtedly resides in the top-six.

Now, it’s up to the Rangers to give him the chance.