Rangers Filip Chytil's perspective on life has changed after injury filled career

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Joshua Deeds
September 21, 2024 (7:31 PM)

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After missing 72 games during the NHL season in 2023-2024, Filip Chytil has had the rest of the season off to recover. There was a scare that he'd never be able to return to the ice, and he is here to dispel those rumors.

"I know where I was at," Chytil told lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, following Saturday's double-session practice at the MSG Training Center. "I'm telling you, from my point of view, I was okay. I knew I was going to be back and playing again."

His history of concussions including the November 2nd injury which removed him from the lineup for the majority of the season gave us all a scare. But he was confident he'd return despite the slow process to clear him medically.

"When you lose something that you love the most and what you do every day since I was 4 years old, it was very hard for me to adjust to a different life in that moment," he said.

He'd remain out of the lineup for six months, as January 26th marked the Rangers announcing his injury status. He'd remain silent and in recovery, as he dredged through the dark days which led to much speculation from the media.

"In the media, it always looks worse than it actually is," he said. "In some moments, it looked like it was the end of the world. Even my closest people started to believe that. And, for me, I was telling them, �Stop reading that, because you've got me telling you how I feel.'"

The conversation turned even darker when Chytil opened up social media.

"You get so many messages from the fans," he said. "Of course, there are nice messages, but then you get bad messages, as well. It was a tough moment for everybody close to me."

Home in Czechia

He'd spend the majority of this time at home in Czechia and wouldn't skate again until five months later. He'd work relentlessly to make himself available for the playoffs.

− "That was maybe of 10% of my abilities," he said, assessing his play − it represented a critical hurdle to clear in preparation for a 2024-25 comeback. He'd play six playoff games, a triumph for him by any means.

"I spent two great months with the whole team," he said. "The time without them was very hard. When I played, at least I reminded myself of the speed of the games at the most important time in the season."

He'd attempt to keep his momentum going by going back to skating five days after being eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the ECF. He'd focus on the next season.

"That speed of the game, I still had it in my head, so I had to jump right away into my practices at home," he said.

The next three months were wholly committed to training. Chytil quipped that he had plenty of extra time with his family while he was injured, which freed him to devote the entire summer to hockey. But nothing, he noted, can replicate live NHL action.

"I have to build everything from zero right now," he said.

Now, with training camp started up, Chytil isn't afraid to get back at it and claim his third-line spot again. The competition fuels him, as the 82-game NHL season is upon him, and his new teammates.

He's practiced with no restrictions and is ready to play as many pre-season games as possible.

"Getting back at the end of the season probably set him up to have a good summer," Laviolette said. "He's come back in very good shape. He looks excellent on the ice. There are no limitations with him whatsoever. I actually think maybe the opposite. Maybe a little bit more is good right now to try and get back in and find the game and the game shape part of it, and the feel that goes with the game."

Fans and family will undoubtedly hold their breath, as every contact occurs on the ice every time he absorbs a check. Chytil however, has no hesitation as he is ready to get down and dirty on the ice as playing with doubt or fear won't help him.

"If I would be scared, I could play somewhere in (Extraliga) in Czech now and enjoy my life. But why?" he said. "I'm back. I'm 100% ready to work, be 100% myself, and I'm not scared of any contact, because I got a couple hits in the playoffs and I was okay."

"I have a different view on everything I do," he said. "I'm working now with unbelievable people at home, here, and it just completely changed my mindset, from last year to this year. It showed that playing the game is not just something I should take for granted, but just enjoy every moment and enjoy every day I'm on the ice."