New York Rangers: Filip Chytil could be key to success

While the hostage negotiations that are the Jack Eichel trade talks continue up in Buffalo, there comes a time where the New York Rangers and their fans must divert their attention elsewhere. As fun as the first week of Eichel trade speculation was, the following 50 did not yield the same pleasure. While there are some potential trade candidates still remaining, none of them seem to be quite good enough to move heaven and earth to acquire.

While not making a big trade for a center would be quite anticlimactic and make the Pavel Buchnevich trade with the St. Louis Blues look even worse, there has to be a moment when the Rangers must seek other solutions for the center position. It is apparent the team does not view Ryan Strome as the answer, being that the organization has looked to move him in a deal several times.

Yet with Filip Chytil already in the organization, perhaps a big move for a center isn’t quite necessary. Chytil has shown flashes of brilliance in his short three-year career, and the combination of size, speed and skill that he possesses could be a lethal addition into the Rangers top six.

Chytil’s improvement

The 21-year-old Czech pivot is coming off an injury shortened season to an already abbreviated hockey calendar that saw him post eight goals and a total of 22 points in just 42 games played (.52 points per game, a career high). To go along with that, Chytil also ranked seventh among NHL centers in points per 60 minutes (minimum 20 games played) at even strength this season. With a broken hand and the after effects of a Covid-19 contraction that derailed a blazing start to the season, Chytil could be primed for a breakout year offensively in 2021-22.

Defensively, Chytil has shown a commitment to progress. According to Evolving Hockey, the up and coming center has shown marked improvement since entering the NHL. His expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) have plummeted (which is a good thing) and has surpassed the top 30 percent of league forwards, as his Actual v. Expected Defensive Goals Above Replacement per 60 minutes is nearing the same landmark; all at even strength.

It is also safe to say that in the event David Quinn was still coaching the team, Chytil would have never been given a shot in the top six. Quinn constantly favored Ryan Strome over Chytil, despite Chytil’s clear ability to put up points consistently at even strength. With a new bench boss in Gerard Gallant entering the fold, ice time could finally increase for the young man.

The weaknesses

Though Chytil has developed into a good young player, his game is not without flaws. While one of Chytil’s apparent weaknesses is his inability to distribute the puck from the middle of the ice, the Rangers glut of playmaking wingers certainly makes it viable to have a shoot-first center. It is less of an issue because of the abundance of playmakers on the wing that the Rangers possess, but Chytil could learn to pass the puck a little more often.

Or perhaps it is more out of refusal, as Chytil has shown his passing and playmaking abilities off on occasion. If that is the case, a bond of trust between he and his linemates will need to be formed to flesh out his playmaking talents.

Regardless, to call Chytil’s playmaking ability nonexistent or suggest he does not possess the skillset to set up his linemates would be nonsensical. He has a few highlight reel passes already on his resume. Check out this insane no-look pass to Pavel Buchnevich against the Washington Capitals.

Should Chytil graduate to the top six and get significant ice time each game, he will need to address his inability to win faceoffs. This past season, he finished with a team-worst 42.7 percent on draws; this was actually an improvement over his first three seasons, where he posted 36.8, 38.8 and 38.4 percent, respectively. It is also incredibly important to note that young centers tend to struggle with winning faceoffs to start their careers.

For instance, Sean Couturier began with an average faceoff win percentage of 47.1 percent for the first five seasons of his career. Now, he is considered one of the best in the game at winning faceoffs averaging 56.3 percent on his faceoffs. Young centers tend to start off sluggish in the faceoff dot, so it is not beyond the realm of possibility for Chytil to improve in that area.

With the New York Rangers organization and its fanbase searching high and low for a top six center, it is quite possible that the solution is staring the team and its faithful followers dead in the face.

The 2021-22 season could be the year of “Fil the Thrill” on Broadway. That’s a play any Rangers fan should be excited to see.