Rangers extended Filip Chytil for 4 years at $4.4375

There was going to be a lot of work for the Rangers to do in the summer, but that load has just gotten a little lighter. Today, General Manager Chris Drury announced that center Filip Chytil has committed the next four years of his career to the Blueshirts, taking him through to the conclusion of the 2026-27 season as a member of New York. One of New York’s big restricted free agents is now under contract for next season.

Chytil has had quite the breakout season in that kid-line role. 22 goals and 20 assists for 42 points in just 66 games due to his injury struggles is a remarkable breakout of strong depth and he has really shown that he can cure the ills of the Blueshirts when the top six falls quiet. He’s going to be an important cog of this roster moving forward as the group for the next couple of years.

This deal is for four years and it carries a $4.4375 average annual value and cap hit. This could be an issue as it will walk Chytil to unrestricted free agency, but that is a matter of crossing that bridge when we get to it. It does kind of hamstring the ability of the Rangers to add a lot in other places in free agency or via trade and the roster is kind of stuck in the mold it is currently built into.

This leaves the Rangers with $12 million in cap space with four forwards, a defenseman, a goalie, and any extra the organization wants to have still needed to be signed. This doesn’t include forward Alexis Lafreniere or defenseman K’Andre Miller who will both be restricted free agents this summer. With players like Niko Mikkola, Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Tyler Motte all expiring among others, it could be an expensive summer.