Filip Chytil has been medically cleared and skated today at Rangers practice in a regular jersey, not a “non-contact” jersey. (Dreger, Brooks)
There is no timetable for Chytil to return and the Rangers are not rushing him back. (Dreger)
Emily Kaplan says that Chytil could be an option for the playoffs. (Kaplan)
Matt Rempe is skating with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey and Jacob Trouba is skating with Erik Gustafsson while Braden Schneider and K’Andre Miller are paired together. (Brooks)
Adam Rotter: The fact that Chytil is even on the ice and a potential option for the playoffs is crazy. They ruled him out for the season after his setback in January and it seemed like Chytil’s next game would be in the preseason. Maybe this was just a mental step for Chytil, to get back on the ice before the end of the season, and that the plan will still be for him to sit out the rest of the way. Maybe he thinks a return is in play, but I gotta think that he’s gonna need multiple more practices with contact and then lots of follow up monitoring to see how he feels before returning is even an option.
It’s far too early to start thinking about potential line combos if Chytil returns, especially because we won’t know who is playing well and who may be injured when that time comes….but, if Chytil were returning tomorrow then I’d guess he would slot in next to Kaapo Kakko and Will Cuylle, Jack Roslovic would be a scratch and Alex Wennberg would shift to the top line. I wouldn’t go banking on Chytil returning, especially in the first round, but if he can continue to skate, take contact and have no setbacks, it will be a great sign for the start of next season.