Will Rangers' Filip Chytil Return For The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs?
New York Rangers beat reporter Arthur Staple discusses all angles of a Filip Chytil return for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Filip Chytil is practicing with the New York Rangers despite a statement released on Jan.28, stating he would return in 2024-2025.
"He's out there and I think [the Rangers] kept that under wraps pretty well," Arthur Staple said on the PuckTalkCS podcast.
"I'd heard when he was shut down for the year that it was more of a situation that the Rangers said to him, 'We can't risk this, you don't need to risk this, you're our guy for the long hall. We want to make sure you are healthy'... I think they said let's just leave the door open."
The Rangers have been without Chytil due to an upper-body injury since Nov. 2 and he reaggravated that injury in a practice on Jan. 26. He was placed on the LTIR on Jan. 28th.
feed
In a turn of events, the 24-year-old center began practicing with the team on April 12th.
"He wants this. I think the Rangers have been the ones to be more cautious. I don't think you'll see him for the first round. He's only had three practices this week and that's been it since November...conditioning is a huge part of this," Staple said.
The Czech native recorded six assists skating between Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin through the Blueshirts' first 10 games.
His dynamic play through the middle lane of the ice would be a tremendous addition to the roster, as he proved to be a reliable scoring threat in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.
A return would also make for a deeper lineup that has already earned major contributions from Jimmy Vesey, Matt Rempe, and Barclay Goodrow.
According to Staple, the effects of Chytil's injury were difficult for the young man to overcome.
"He was struggling pretty mightily with the after effects...in every professional sport, guys that are hurt don't spend a lot of time around teammates which is difficult emotionally."
All signs are pointing to No. 72 in better health now.
"Even if he's not able to play in the playoffs, it's encouraging. He's a very popular guy in the room, he's been here seven years. He's got an incredible attitude, an upbeat [and] positive guy.
If Chytil is able to play, the Rangers can reactivate him off of the LTIR without any cap restraints.