Filip Chytil didn’t even make it through one period in the preseason before he got injured.
Obviously, both he and the Vancouver Canucks are hoping he’ll stick around a lot longer in his return from injury, as he’s set to get back in the Canucks’ lineup as they face the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
“I can’t wait to play a game,” said Chytil after the team’s morning skate. “It’s been a long time since I played my last game, so I’m very excited for that.”
Injuries have become a major concern for Chytil, who played just 12 games for the Canucks last season. He’s also just a couple of years removed from playing just 10 games for the New York Rangers in the 2023-24 season.
Chytil spent time in the summer studying video of NHL players who play at a similar pace to his own game, trying to figure out how those players can avoid injuries while still playing at top speed.
Unfortunately, his first test of what he learned in game action resulted in a freak accident, as he ran into a referee and went headlong into the boards.
Thankfully, Chytil avoided another concussion and was only out three weeks with a shoulder injury, which counts as good news for a guy like Chytil.
Now he’s set to make his season debut against one of the most dangerous teams in the NHL. The Panthers play a fast, physical game — some might even call them dirty. Chytil will have to keep his head up.
“They’re going to forecheck you relentlessly, they’re going to make it tough defensively to get to the inside, and it’s going to be a physical affair,” said head coach Manny Malhotra. “Those are the things you come to expect from [the Panthers].”
Chytil’s return is also why the Canucks put Aatu Räty on waivers on Wednesday.
Vancouver Canucks projected lines
Chytil’s return means some changes to the Canucks’ forward lines, and they’re also making a change to the defence pairs.
Here are the Canucks’ projected lines, courtesy of The Athletic’s Thomas Drance:
Jake DeBrusk – Elias Pettersson – Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Liam Öhgren – Marco Rossi – Linus Karlsson
Paul Cotter – Filip Chytil – Brock Boeser
Drew O’Connor – Max Sasson – Brendan Gallagher
Elias Pettersson – Filip Hronek
Jamie Oleksiak – Tom Willander
Zeev Buium – Victor Mancini
Leevi Meriläinen
Kevin Lankinen
Liam Öhgren will be reunited with Marco Rossi on the second line, bumping Paul Cotter down to the third line with Chytil and Brock Boeser.
That gives Chytil a pair of offensive-minded wingers who can potentially finish off his playmaking.
“One of his major assets is his speed,” said Malhotra. “That level of speed that he brings changes the dynamic of our group.”
On defence, Luke Schenn will come out of the lineup in favour of Victor Mancini, giving the Canucks a young third pairing with Mancini and Zeev Buium.
The Canucks’ starting goaltender is expected to be Leevi Meriläinen, marking his second consecutive start for the first time this season.
Florida Panthers projected lines
Even without Aleksander Barkov, who is out six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury, the Panthers still have a strong lineup and are coming off a dominant 7-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Still, the Panthers have been somewhat mediocre to start the season, with a 3-2-2 record.
Here are the Panthers’ projected lines:
Brady Tkachuk – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sandis Vilmanis
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Reinhart – Lars Eller
Bokondji Imama – Sam Lafferty – Garnet Hathaway
Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Kulikov – Uvis Balinskis
Akira Schmid
Cooper Black
Former Canuck Jacob Markstrom is out with an injury, which means the expected starting goaltender for the Panthers is backup Akira Schmid. The Panthers could take the opportunity against a weaker Canucks team to give 6’8″ Cooper Black his first NHL start.