The Vancouver Canucks held their end of season media availabilities on Friday morning, and it was fans first opportunity to hear from Filip Chytil after sustaining a season-ending concussion on March 15:
“Yeah, I feel good,” Chytil said regarding his current health. “It’s been nice [the last] couple of days to practice with the guys, and I really enjoyed it. It’s great to head to the off-season 100% ready and have a big summer now, and be ready for September.”
Chytil missed the Canucks’ final 16 games of the regular season with his fifth documented concussion. The centreman has battled with head injuries throughout his career in New York with the Rangers. While it’s scary to hear of one player sustaining so many head injuries, it also comes with experience.
Head coach Rick Tocchet shared that Chytil stated this particular concussion was not as severe as some of the previous ones he had sustained in the past. Chytil resumed skating on his own at the beginning of April and participated in the final practice of the season in a regular practice jersey, indicating that he had cleared concussion protocol:
“Yeah, that’s why I had a blue jersey,” Chytil said. “Yeah, I was cleared, and it was great for my mental part as well that I could stay with the guys; I could be in the drills. It’s huge for summer that I know I can start whenever I want and just go 100% into everything I want to do. And it’s big for me and for my head as well.”
The hit came late in the third period against the Blackhawks, when the Canucks already held a commanding 6-2 lead. Former Canuck Jason Dickinson blindsided Chytil, crunching him straight into the boards from behind, with Chytil’s head bouncing off the boards.
Here is what Chytil had to say regarding the hit, his emotions in the moment and how tough it was for him to watch the Canucks battle for a playoff spot from the sidelines:
“Yeah, I was not happy at that moment, but I was not thinking that I’m going to be out for next month. I was just frustrated from a lot of things, and at the time, yeah, like I said I missed the most important month for our team, when we were battling for the playoffs, and watching guys battling like that was not easy for me, because I want to be on the ice every game. But yeah, it was harder for me to go through that because, like I said, I saw them battle every night, winning games in overtime, getting the comebacks, and I was sitting at home and watching games from my couch. So it was very frustrating, but it is what it is. I’ve gotta focus on what’s in front of me. It’s a long summer, and I can work on so many things. And yeah, hopefully I’m gonna be healthy, and if I’m healthy, I know what I can do on the ice.”
It is encouraging to hear the Czech centreman is 100% healthy heading into the offseason, and can go through his regular summer training to prepare for a strong first full season with the Vancouver Canucks.
