Filip Chytil isn’t looking for a new identity-he’s looking to reclaim the one that made him such a valuable piece in the first place.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound center brings a rare blend of size, speed, and skill, and before a concussion derailed his season last March, he was showing exactly why the Canucks made him a centerpiece in the J.T. Miller trade.
In just 15 games, Chytil was making his presence felt in all the right ways: leading the team in scoring chances (42) and rush scoring chances (13), while ranking second in offensive zone carry-ins (95), possession time (11:28), and expected goals (4.43). He wasn’t just playing well-he was driving play, and doing it with authority.
Then came the hit.
It was a late one, delivered by Jason Dickinson along the sideboards on March 15. The result was a concussion that not only cut Chytil’s season short, but forced him into a long, frustrating recovery.
Looking back, Chytil admits there were things he could’ve done differently in that moment. “A moment I could avoid, the hit was a little bit late,” he said.
“It’s part of the game. When I look back, there are details I could do different and not be in that moment.
I’ve had a lot of time to work on a lot of things and that hit is behind me now. I can learn from it.”
But what Chytil won’t do is overhaul his game.
“I don’t want to change my game,” he said. “If I change my whole game, I would be a totally different player and I don’t want to be.”
That’s the balance he’s trying to strike now-returning with the same edge and offensive instincts that made him dangerous, while being smarter about how he navigates the physical toll of the NHL. For a Canucks team that’s been searching for a strong, play-driving center who can be tough to play against, Chytil’s return to form could be a game-changer.
And he’s not the only one on the comeback trail.
Teddy Blueger’s potential return to the lineup Monday against the New York Islanders carries its own significance-especially when you consider how much his absence has hurt the Canucks’ penalty kill. Blueger, who went down with what was initially called a lower-body injury on October 19, has battled through a longer and more complicated recovery than expected. His history of knee issues didn’t help, and his road back has been anything but linear.
“I feel the best I’ve felt in a long time,” Blueger said after skating on a line with Liam Ohgren and Conor Garland at Sunday’s practice. “A long progression and difficult. There were a couple of setbacks throughout the process and it wasn’t as straightforward as we expected and would have liked.”
Blueger’s frustration is understandable. He’s played just two games since last April, and Sunday marked his first full 5-on-5 practice in three months. He knows there’s still work to do to get back up to game speed-especially when it comes to timing, pace, and the physical battles that come with NHL shifts.
“Very frustrating,” he admitted. “The more time you miss, the harder it is to get back... timing and speed and being comfortable out there giving bumps and getting hit in battles will be an adjustment.”
The Canucks are hoping that adjustment comes quickly. Last season, Blueger was a key part of a penalty kill that ranked third in the league at 82.6 percent, forming a strong tandem with Pius Suter, who left in free agency. This year, the PK has cratered to 30th overall at just 72.2 percent-a glaring weakness on an otherwise competitive team.
Getting Blueger back isn’t just about shoring up the penalty kill. It’s about restoring a piece of the team’s identity-gritty, defensively responsible, and tough to play against.
Just like Chytil, Blueger doesn’t need to reinvent himself. He just needs to get back to being the player the Canucks know he can be.
If both can do that, the Canucks might just find themselves with the kind of depth down the middle that turns good teams into great ones.