Five days after the Rangers lost to the Panthers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, Filip Chytil was back on the ice.
Five months of last season were spent resting and recuperating for Chytil, whose recovery from a suspected fourth concussion after going down in the 10th game of the season was not an easy one.
He had never spent such a long time away from hockey in his life.
Now, both he and the Rangers have made strengthening Chytil a priority during preseason.
“I wish [to play as many preseason games as possible] He hadn't played since Nov. 3 and only played six games in the playoffs. [it] “I was only like 10 percent of my potential,” Chytil said Saturday after two sessions at the MSG Training Center. “Like I said, I hadn't skated at all before the playoffs. I jumped in, I worked hard, but when is preseason?”
“I [hope] In the first game I remind myself [of] We just take it one step at a time, thinking about the game, what we were missing, and taking it one step at a time every game until the first game of the season.”
The Czech center said it's important for him to play in the playoffs.
It reminded him what the speed of the most important game of the season is like.
So when he got on the ice with his skills coach at the end of the season, Chytil had some idea of the speed he wanted to achieve.
As for returning to hard contact, the 25-year-old Chytil said he isn't scared given his past experiences.
Experiencing the physical side of the game again in the playoffs helped Chytil know he'd be OK.
“Coming back so late in the season gave him a good summer,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “He came back, but maybe not as well as he needed to be based on how the season went. Now he's worked hard all summer, he's back and he's come back in great shape, he's in great shape on the ice.”
“He doesn't have any limitations. I think quite the opposite. Now it's probably better for him to work a little harder and come back and get his game back, his flow and his feel for the game.”
“He's feeling good, he's healthy and he'll progress through training camp but he'll play some games.”
Defensemen Casey Fitzgerald and Chad Ruhwedel replaced Ben Harper and Connor McKee with the main group on Saturday.
The Rangers will play their first exhibition game in Boston on Sunday at 5 p.m.
