'Odds are against' Filip Chytil playing for the Canucks again this season, coach Rick Tocchet says
'Odds are against' Filip Chytil playing for the Canucks again this season, coach Rick Tocchet says
Vancouver Canucks' Filip Chytil, right, is checked by Calgary Flames' Blake Coleman during second period NHL hockey action in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil may miss for the rest of the season after experiencing a setback in his attempt to return from another concussion.
Coach Rick Tocchet said Tuesday that Chytil, who's 25, has experienced good and bad days trying to work back. The 25-year-old from Czechia has not played since getting concussed when he was hit from behind by Chicago's Jason Dickinson on March 15.
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'He would go out and skate and felt good, the next day not as good,' Tocchet said. 'To be honest with you guys, does he play this year? Maybe the odds are against it. Plus you don't want to put a guy in that type of position. But when a guy has good days and bad days, obviously you're not going to play the guy.'
Asked if there was concern about Chytil's hockey-playing career continuing because of his concussion history, Tocchet added he was not sure.
'I talked to him today and he said it was different than his last concussion,' Tocchet said. 'The bad days aren't as bad, so that's a positive, so I think we've got to take the positive approach. Plus he's got four, five months to rebuild himself, or who knows? We've just got to take it day by day with this guy right now.'
Vancouver acquired Chytil in late January as part of the return for trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers. Chytil has already had multiple concussions in the NHL and does not turn 26 until September.
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The Canucks, who are making a desperate push to make the playoffs, are also not sure about the status of center Elias Pettersson, who has not played since getting injured March 22 against the Rangers. Tocchet said Pettersson was day to day.
Captain Quinn Hughes has missed time for a lower-body injury and winger Brock Boeser was temporarily sidelined by a concussion. All-Star goalie Thatcher Demko missed training camp and the beginning of the season as he worked his way back from a rare knee injury, then went down with another injury in February.
'There's been a lot of things that've hit this team,' Tocchet said. 'And you're looking for culture stuff, right? Who's all in and who's not. When you have a lot of guys all buying in, you can withstand some stuff.'
The Canucks (34-27-13) are chasing the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference as they get set to host the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.
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The odds of making a playoff run aren't in Vancouver's favor, but everyone on the team is staying committed, Demko said, even as injuries continue to ravage the lineup.
'I think as a group, we've been through a lot this year,' Demko said. 'It's obviously not an easy situation right now with some of the guys out, but I feel like our effort's been there every game. We haven't mailed it in, we're not using it as an excuse. We're showing up every night and giving it a solid effort. So really proud of the guys coming together and trying to get some wins here.'
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