Inside The Shocking Transformation Of Filip Chytil

There is something different about Filip Chytil this season.

To start the year, Chytil has been explosive, and exhilarating to watch. There's no other way to put it.

Chytil’s speed has been off the charts as he’s been able to create plays for both himself and others by using his legs.

It seems Chytil has been generating multiple high quality scoring chances every game and always finds a way to split through the defense.

The 25-year-old forward is playing with a sense of offensive command and has been calm and composed with the puck on his stick, almost methodical in a way.

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. It took months of physical and mental preparation for Chytil to get to this point.

“I worked a lot not just physically on my skills over the summer, which was very hard and I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, but also in my head mentally I was preparing for this season even when I didn’t play for a long time,” Chytil said. “I just want to come out there and play as best I can and do the things I know I can do and come to the rink everyday, work hard on my game.”

His impressive play is translating to the statsheet. Chytil has recorded three goals, three assists and six points in eight games.

For a long time, the bottom-six has been a glaring weak spot for the Rangers, but not anymore. The third line of Chytil, Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko have emerged from the shadows and are now an offensive juggernaut.

Led by Chytil, this line is consistently putting pressure in the opposing team’s defensive zone while they are playing a strong two-way game.

“I think we all kind of bring something different,” Cuylle said. “We all kind of have different things that we are good at. Maybe there are some things that one person is not as strong in, but the other person makes up for it. I think we are really balanced in that aspect and that kind of helps us out I feel like.”

The road for Chytil to even get back to the ice and play the game of hockey again was long and strenuous.

Chytil has a long history of concussions and practically missed the entirety of last season with a head injury.

Over time, Chytil found a way to work himself back up until now where he’s in phenomenal shape and is in a much better place mentally.

The fact that Chytil was able to make a full return from a serious injury is a blessing. He is determined to not only play the sport that he loves, but thrive and become the best possible version of himself.

“I feel like I’m going in the right direction with myself,” Chytil said. “It’s still a lot of hard work ahead of me and I feel good, I feel confident, but there is still more I have to work on and I want to be better as a player each day that passes.”