Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil heads into the 2026-27 season with plenty on the line.
He’s in the final year of the four-year, $17.75 million contract he signed in March 2023, carrying a salary of $4.437 million annually. That puts him at a crossroads: if the season goes well, there could be room for an extension. If it doesn’t, the future gets a lot murkier.
The biggest question is whether Chytil can finally stay on the ice. In 2025-26, he appeared in just 12 games and scored three goals.
Injuries wiped out most of his season, and that’s been the story for the last three years. Over that span, he has played only 78 games total, with six concussions since 2021-22 driving much of the problem.
For now, the Canucks have him penciled in as their third-line center. Among players in that role, Chytil ranks 15th in salary. He is currently on injured reserve, but is expected to be cleared by Sept. 15, which would get him ready for training camp.
If Vancouver does move toward an extension, AFP Analytics projects a three-year deal worth $13.029 million after the 2026-27 season. That would come out to an annual average value of $4.343 million for the 26-year-old Czech forward.
On the surface, that’s a reasonable number for a player who would be a 27-year-old unrestricted free agent. The catch is obvious: it assumes Chytil can finally put together a full season, something he has never done in his career. His most games in a single season came in 2018-19, when he played 75.
There’s only so much Chytil can do about the concussion history and the injuries that have followed. But if he wants to put himself in position for another major contract, the Canucks will need to see something close to a full year - maybe around 80 games - and proof that he can be a dependable piece as they rebuild or potentially as a trade chip for future assets.
That’s what makes 2026-27 such an important season for him. Chytil needs to show he can still perform at the NHL level after playing just 78 games across three seasons.
It will also be worth watching how head coach Manny Malhotra uses him. There has been talk of Chytil staying at third-line center or shifting to the wing so Aatu Räty can get a chance at top-nine minutes.
For Chytil and the Canucks, the hope is simple: a healthy season, a steady role, and a clearer answer about what comes next. Whether that leads to an extension or something else, the coming year could shape his future in Vancouver and beyond.
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