New York Rangers: Filip Chytil is flourishing in larger role

The emergence of Filip Chytil is an encouraging sign for the New York Rangers.

The New York Rangers rebuild is going rather well. They’re not postseason contenders yet, but they’re already light years ahead of where they were two years ago when they announced the start of their long-overdue rebuild. Obviously, signing Artemi Panarin and trading for (and extending) Jacob Trouba helped quite a bit. However, the development of Filip Chytil has been a surprising development and an important one.

Before this season, the Rangers knew Mika Zibanejad was their first-line center. However, they didn’t really have a set answer on the second line. This is why it was a bit surprising to see the Rangers send Chytil down to the AHL, even after an unimpressive preseason. Ryan Strome did fine in the second-line center role until Oct. 29. That’s when the Rangers recalled Chytil from the AHL.

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Last season, Chytil played in 75 games, putting up 23 points. 10 of those points came at five-on-five. He struggled to find a spot in the lineup but seemed to find his game after the trade deadline. For whatever reason (the early spread-out schedule likely played a role), Chytil started the year in the AHL. He got the Rangers attention with nine points in nine games with the Hartford Wolfpack.

Why Rangers Fans Should Be Excited About Chytil

Since being called up, Artemi Panarin is the only Rangers forward who has averaged more time on ice per game at five-on-five than Chytil. Chytil has responded by rewarding head coach David Quinn for his faith in him by quickly emerging as a key member of the Rangers’ top-six forward group.

An injury to Mika Zibanejad got Strome a promotion to the first forward line with Artemi Panarin. This gave Chytil a chance to prove himself on the second line. He has run with it, quickly forming impressive chemistry with Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich.

Chytil did a lot of little things right last season, but those little things didn’t produce results. This season, he’s being rewarded thanks to playing with better linemates. Through 17 games, Chytil has eight goals and two assists for 10 points, each of them coming at five-on-five. He had 14 five-on-five points all of last season and he’s already close to surpassing that.

Just how impressive has Chytil been for the Rangers? Here’s where he ranks among Rangers forwards (min. 150 minutes at five-on-five).

• 5v5 points per hour: 2.5 (second)
• 5v5 goals per hour 2.0 (first)
• 5v5 individual expected goals per hour: 0.91 (first)
• CorsiFor%: 50.11% (first)
• FenwickFor%: 50.97% (first)
• GoalsFor%: 63.64% (second)
• Expected GoalsFor%: 54.28% (first)

One could easily make the case he’s been the Rangers most consistent and impressive forward since being called up. But how does he compare to the rest of the league? 372 forwards have played at least 150 minutes at five-on-five. Chytil ranks quite favorably among them.

• 5v5 points per hour: 35th
• 5v5 goals per hour: 3rd
• 5v5 individual expected goals per hour: 19th

On paper, his two assists might suggest he’s not a good passer. But he’s setting Buchnevich and Kreider up for quality chances, they’ve just been unable to deliver.

Regardless, Chytil has given Rangers fans a lot to be excited about. Few players have improved more from last season than him. Chytil came into this year as a bit of a question mark, but now appears to be a member of the Rangers’ future core.