Filip Chytil’s injury was the wrench in Peter Laviolette’s plans for his first preseason as head coach of the Rangers.
The loss of the Czech center after just four days of training camp prevented Laviolette from evaluating some of the line combinations that he really needed to.
And as an established top-nine skater, Chytil is a key piece of the lineup that Laviolette would’ve experimented with to the fullest.
“I think having Fil out of the lineup as well and not available for exhibition games, you want to see what he could do with different players,” Laviolette said after the loss in New Jersey on Wednesday, mentioning Chytil unprompted in response to a question about the top line’s personnel. “And we just haven’t had that luxury, that opportunity.”
It’s unclear how long Chytil will be sidelined due to his undisclosed upper-body injury.
No matter what, the trial and error will have to continue in the regular season.
Laviolette only saw Chytil play in the preseason-opening 3-0 loss to the Bruins, in which the 24-year-old centered Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafreniere.
Chytil logged 21:09 of ice time, including 6:45 on the power play, but it’s more about who he spent those minutes next to.
The most important player who Chytil needed game action with this preseason is Artemi Panarin.
That duo didn’t get nearly enough of an opportunity under former head coach Gerard Gallant, and it could be vital in unlocking a lengthier Rangers lineup.
“It is what it is, right?” Laviolette said earlier in camp. “I can’t think about the what-ifs.”
The Rangers have simply had a mediocre preseason — although they looked a bit more cohesive in their 3-1 loss to the Bruins Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
After their final exhibition game, the Blueshirts finished the preseason 1-5.
The club has lost a majority of its exhibition matchups in three of its last four preseasons (not including the preseason-less and shortened 2020-21 campaign).
The one season the Rangers won a majority of their tuneup contests: 2021-22, when they marched all the way to the conference final for the first time in seven years.
What about the last time the Rangers went 1-5 in the preseason while adapting to a new coach?
That would be 2013-14, when Alain Vigneault and the Rangers made it to the Stanley Cup Final.
Preseason isn’t about the wins and losses, but it is about work ethic and ramping up a team’s game before the wins and losses do matter.
Not every Ranger has been able to do that.
Lafreniere didn’t do much with his opportunities. Jonathan Quick has struggled to deliver that key save. Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Panarin have appeared to be looking ahead to the start of the season.
On the flip side, Igor Shesterkin has been in his otherworldly form. Erik Gustafsson has been impressive and a pleasant surprise.
Top prospects Cuylle and Brennan Othmann have been two of the Rangers’ best players day in and day out.
Through it all, however, Laviolette has had a pulse on his team.
From the first day of training camp, Laviolette said he was expecting a major learning curve as the team adapts to his system and how he wants it to be played.
The players have echoed his sentiment and have taken to the process required to implement his teachings.
Practices have been competitive, structured and lively. There’s a purpose for each and every drill.
Laviolette has been critical of the team when he’s needed to be. He’s also exuded an aura of patience.
There’s a plan in place.
Chytil’s injury may be a wrinkle, but Laviolette is working to iron it out.
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