Why NY Rangers need a healthy year out of Filip Chytil

There was a time last season when it could have been true that center and Czechia native Filip Chytil's career was over.

Going into the 2024-25 season slate, the New York Rangers had some of the best centers they've had in the modern era. This year the position group's projected starters are Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, Sam Carrick and the previously mentioned Chytil. The Rangers also signed Carrick while losing Alex Wennberg and Barclay Goodrow.

Both Wennberg and Goodrow went to the San Jose Sharks.

Trocheck was the Rangers' top performing center in 2023. He posted career-highs with 77 points and 52 assists.

Despite multiple nasty head injuries, Chytil showed his strength among them — making a return to the ice when he was needed most before playoffs last year.

In total since joining the league, he has suffered at least four concussions in total. His most recent occurred last November.

While Chytil didn't log much stat wise following his return, he helped provide the Rangers an extra spark across six apperances. Across these games, the 21st overall 2017 draft pick recorded eight shots.

It is expected for Chytil to play as the team's third line center. And while many may not realize this, his role holds a lot of responsibility and stock.

The depth Chytil provides to the lineup is as clear as his upsides. One upside he holds that Rangers' fans can easily point out is his previously mentioned desire to bounce back from previous injuries.

But as is the case with head injuries, his health is a question mark and seeing him have a full and healthy season on the ice is something to be desired.

Where the center group goes from here

Zibanejad and Trocheck are net positives for the top two lines, and if Chytil can stay healthy he’ll be a massive upgrade over Wennberg, who didn’t bring much to the statsheet following being acquired at the trade deadline. 

Should this be the case, the Rangers will have a very balanced forward core; potentially making them arguably the best offensive unit in the NHL.