Before embarking on their four-game road trip, the New York Rangers called up center Jake Leschyshyn from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on Saturday. This move follows an upper-body injury sustained by Filip Chytil two days earlier.
Chytil will not accompany the team to Seattle for Sunday’s game against the Kraken but hasn’t been ruled out from joining later during the trip.
“Right now, he’s still getting evaluated, and we’ll see,” said head coach Peter Laviolette after Saturday’s practice.
If Chytil is unavailable for a single game or an extended period, Jonny Brodzinski is expected to step in as the third-line center. Brodzinski, 31, has recorded one goal and one assist in seven games this season and has been a healthy scratch in eight others. On Saturday, he replaced Chytil on a line with Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko during practice.
In such a scenario, Leschyshyn would serve as the team’s extra forward. The 25-year-old has played 77 NHL games, including one with the Rangers last season and 13 during the 2022-23 campaign. Before joining New York, he played parts of two seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights. Leschyshyn has six career NHL points (two goals, four assists).
“He’s versatile, playing well right now, logging a lot of minutes. He’s got speed and is reliable,” Laviolette said. “He’s a good piece to bring on the trip.”
This season with Hartford, Leschyshyn has recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in 13 games, including a short-handed assist in a 4-2 win against Charlotte on Friday. He also has a short-handed goal this season.
In 2023-24, he appeared in 47 games with the Wolf Pack, tallying 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists).
Filip Chytil sustains scary injury in Rangers win against Sharks
Laviolette provided limited details about Chytil’s condition, but concerns are understandably high after Chytil exited Thursday’s game with an “upper-body injury” following an accidental second-period collision with teammate K’Andre Miller.
Chytil, who has a history of head injuries—including one last season that limited him to just 10 regular-season games after a November upper-body injury—looked unsteady after Miller’s elbow appeared to strike him on the side of the helmet or possibly the jaw. He managed to get up and skate to the bench at 12:26 of the second period before heading to the dressing room for medical attention.
Although Chytil returned later in the period for a single 61-second shift that ended at 17:22, he did not play again and was ruled out for the third period.
“Day to day. Getting evaluated right now,” Laviolette said after the game.
The Rangers have not confirmed whether Chytil suffered a head injury, and Laviolette sidestepped a reporter’s question on Saturday that referenced Chytil’s prior health issues.
“Nobody wants to see anybody out of the lineup. We want all of our guys healthy and in the lineup,” the coach stated.
Chytil is enjoying a strong start to the season, with four goals and nine points in 15 games. Alongside Cuylle and Kakko, his line has an impressive 65.29% xGF at 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick, and has outscored opponents 11-0. Statistically, this line has been not only the Rangers’ best but also one of the top-performing lines in the NHL.
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