Filip Chytil is returning to his home in Czechia for an indeterminate period in the next step of his recovery from the suspected concussion he sustained on Nov. 2, The Post has learned.
Industry sources have framed the decision reached in conjunction by the 24-year-old center and the Rangers organization as a “reset,” in which Chytil will continue skating on his own under the supervision of the trainer and skills coach with whom he works in the offseason.
Sources have told the Post that Chytil—who is believed to have sustained four concussions throughout his six-year NHL career in which he has been sidelined for injury 10 different times—has made progress while skating on his own at the club’s practice rink over the last four weeks and is committed to returning this year.
The decision, reached mutually by Chytil’s camp and team hierarchy, will allow No. 72 to experience the next phase of his recovery at home in a familiar environment where he will be surrounded by friends and family.
He is scheduled to fly home Friday night.
Chtyil, the blueblood 21st-overall selection of the 2017 entry draft, opened the season as the Blueshirts’ second-line center between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, posting six assists in his first nine games with his dynamic unit until colliding with Jesper Fast eight minutes into the first period of the Nov. 2 contest against Carolina.
He was able to take eight more shifts before leaving the bench late in the second period and has been sidelined since, having missed the last 23 games while placed under Long Term Injury designation retroactive to Nov. 3.
If Chytil is unable to return during the regular-season, the Rangers would gain approximately $3.8 Million of additional space off the center’s $4.437.500M cap hit to bulk up the roster. Using that money would not preclude Chytil returning for the playoffs.
There are steps, though, between now and then for the young man who graduated from the Kid Line and spread his wings before erstwhile mates Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko were able to do so.
The next ones will be taken in familiar surroundings at home in Czechia.
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