Filip Chytil’s latest injury scare has forced the Vancouver Canucks to hold him out again, at least for one game, after a heavy collision on Thursday night left him being evaluated for a re-aggravation of the upper-body issue he dealt with in the preseason.
Chytil was able to return to the ice after the hit during the Canucks’ late push with the goalie pulled, but he was nowhere to be found at Friday’s practice at UBC. The club said he missed the session while being assessed, and head coach Manny Malhotra later said Chytil would get the day off Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The contact came after Chytil had already been engaged by Macklin Celebrini and was not expecting another blow. This time, he had his head down while trying to shield the puck from the Sharks captain, and Darnell Nurse delivered the big hit that sent him off for further evaluation.
For Chytil, the timing stings because awareness has been such a focus. He has had plenty of injury trouble in his career, including several concussions, and spent the offseason studying video of other fast forwards to see how they handle top speed without drifting into danger. That work showed up in the way he approached the game: more deliberate shoulder checks, more attention to what was around him, more commitment to keeping his head up.
One of his self-run pregame drills reflects that shift. Chytil works through a series of cutbacks with the puck, and each move is preceded by quick looks over both shoulders. The idea has been to train himself to stay alert before contact can find him.
Even so, that new habit wasn’t enough to prevent an earlier preseason collision with an official, which led to a shoulder injury and kept him out for three weeks. And now, after Thursday’s hit, the Canucks are again waiting to see how much time he’ll miss.
In Other News...
Canucks Let A Winnable Game Slip Away In One Brutal Period
For two periods, the Canucks looked in control against the Sharks, riding a tidy defensive effort and a couple of timely finishes into a 2-0 lead. Elias Pettersson opened the scoring after Jamie Oleksiak made a strong play in the defensive end, and Liam hgren added another in the second period while Leevi Merilinen kept things quiet with several important saves.
Merilinens best work came while Vancouver was killing penalties, where he turned aside multiple looks that could have shifted the game earlier. The night still carried a jolt, though, when Brock Boeser left after taking a shot off his foot, forcing Arshdeep Bains onto the first line and adding another layer of uncertainty to a game the Canucks already let get away in a rough third period. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Suddenly Have A New Lineup Question Up Front
The Canucks made a quick adjustment up front Monday, recalling Jacob Quillan from AHL Abbotsford as they sorted through another injury-related shuffle. Quillan arrived in the organization a few weeks ago in the Aatu Rty deal from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he has opened his Abbotsford stint well enough to put himself on the radar for a call-up.
Filip Chytil was also moved to injured reserve with an upper-body injury, adding another layer of uncertainty to Vancouvers forward group. Chytil has been dealing with injuries, and while he is eligible to return next Thursday, the Canucks now have to navigate the meantime with a fresh look at their depth options. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks May Like This Young Winger More Than His Trade Cost
Ivan Miroshnichenko is the kind of young winger who can intrigue a team looking for upside, and the Canucks have reportedly been among the clubs with interest. The 20-year-old has not yet carved out a full-time NHL role with Washington, but his blend of youth and pedigree makes him a player worth tracking for a Vancouver team always weighing present need against future value.
The challenge, of course, is the price tag. Washington is believed to be asking for at least a first-round pick, which turns a potential buy-low swing into a much bigger decision for Vancouvers front office. If the Canucks are serious, they will have to decide whether Miroshnichenkos long-term promise is worth paying for before he has fully established himself at the NHL level. [Read more 🡒]