It seems unlikely that former New York Rangers center will return to the ice this season due to his latest concussion.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet revealed that he continues to experience “good days and bad days,” prompting the team to take a cautious approach to his recovery and avoid putting him at risk.
“He’ll go out and skate, feel good, and then the next day, not as good,” Tocchet explained. “So, to be honest, will he play this year? Maybe. But the odds are against it, and you don’t want to put a guy in that situation. When someone has inconsistent recovery days, obviously, you’re not going to play him.”
He suffered the concussion on March 15 after being hit from behind by Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson late in the third period of Vancouver’s 6-2 home victory. Since then, the 25-year-old has not practiced with the team, let alone played in a game. The Canucks have gone 3-3-2 in his absence.
His struggles with head injuries throughout his eight-year NHL career, particularly during his time with the Rangers, are well documented. Last season, he missed the final 72 regular-season games due to a concussion, and an attempted return in January was derailed by what was believed to be another head injury.
When asked whether Chytil’s career might be in jeopardy, Tocchet remained hopeful.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I talked to him today, and he said this concussion feels different from the last one—the bad days aren’t as severe, which is encouraging. We have to stay positive, and he’s got four or five months to focus on his recovery.”
