Filip Chytil’s preseason night for the Vancouver Canucks ended early after a scary collision late in the first period against the Edmonton Oilers.
The play unfolded in the offensive zone when Chytil ran into a referee’s skate and was sent awkwardly into the boards. His shoulder appeared to take the brunt of the impact, and he ended up face down on the ice with his skates up near the boards.
Chytil got back to his feet and made it to the bench, but the situation didn’t settle there. According to the Sportsnet broadcast, he briefly went down the tunnel before returning to sit with his teammates. After a few minutes on the bench, he headed back into the tunnel with a trainer, visibly dealing with what looked like a shoulder injury.
He did not come back for the rest of the first period and was also absent when the second period began. The team then announced that Chytil would not return to the game.
It’s another tough break for a player whose NHL career has been marked by injuries. Chytil has dealt with a long list of head injuries over nine seasons, including three during his two years in Vancouver.
Since coming over from the New York Rangers in the JT Miller trade, he has already had his share of hard-luck moments. He was rocked in the numbers along the boards by Jason Dickinson and managed to play only 15 games for the Canucks, finishing that stretch with two goals and six points.
His recent injury history has been even more frustrating. In Game 6 of last season, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson hit him on the open ice and left him down on the ice.
Chytil then missed the next 45 games before returning in late January. He later played in another six games while the team tried him on the wing, but after taking a puck to the face in an Olympic break practice, he was shut down for the rest of the season.
The Canucks are expected to get an update from head coach Manny Malhotra after the game.
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