The Rangers need Filip Chytil more than many fans may actually think.
The New York Rangers had a fantastic season last year, winning the Presidents’ Trophy and made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
However, the Rangers came up just short of winning a Stanley Cup as it seemed that the team was just missing something.
That missing piece the Rangers need to be complete is Filip Chytil.
Yes, Chytil returned for New York towards the end of the playoffs, but he was still limited due to a concussion that he suffered in November of last year, which kept him out for the rest of the regular season.
Now, the 25-year-old is back with no limitations and his impact through training camp and the preseason has been noticeable to say the least.
He’s arguably been the Rangers’ best player through this short stretch. Chytil is flying at practice with his speed on full display.
The young forward has been an offensive machine, using his speed and impressive puck handling skills to create opportunities for both himself and his linemates Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette is using Chytil both on the power play and penalty kill, so it looks like he’ll be serving a major role once the regular season begins.
If Chytil stays healthy and that's a big if, he’ll completely balance out New York’s offensive core making them an even more dangerous unit.
Chytil is the team’s swiss army knife. He’s extremely valuable both offensively and defensively, making him a dynamic two-way player.
Injuries have hindered Chytil’s career and has not allowed him to even scratch the surface of what he can ultimately accomplish in the NHL.
We’ve seen flashes, but never a full picture of his true potential and this season will be an opportunity to finally witness just that.
This is why Chytil is the Rangers X-factor and an even bigger piece than many people may actually realize.
