Can Filip Chytil be the second-line centre the Canucks desperately need?

Elias Pettersson is undoubtedly the teamâ€s No. 1 centre, but skepticism abounds about whether he can regain his superstar status after a sharp decline in production. Below Pettersson on the Canucks†depth chart is Filip Chytil, whose NHL career so far has been defined by unfulfilled promise. Multiple concussions have sidelined Chytil, 26, for long stretches, including the latest one in March that ended his season after 15 games with Vancouver.  

In eight seasons with the Canucks and New York Rangers, Chytil has exceeded the 30-point mark once and averaged 14:10 of ice time over his nearly 400-game career. His best season came in 2022-23, when he posted 22 goals and 45 points in 74 games as part of the Rangers†“Kid Line†alongside fellow first-round picks Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko.  

Former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet, however, played Chytil almost 17 minutes per game after he arrived from New York in the J.T. Miller trade. Although Chytil produced just two goals and six points in 15 games before suffering another head injury, he played like a difference maker in terms of offensive generation. He led the Canucks in scoring chances (42), slot shots on net (27) and completed slot passes (24) during his first six weeks with the team.  

Over that span, Chytil also excelled at transporting the puck up ice, ranking first on the Canucks with 76 defensive-zone carry-outs and 95 offensive-zone carry-ins. It was an encouraging glimpse of what a healthy Chytil can provide the centre-hungry Canucks.  

New Canucks coach Adam Foote told reporters Thursday that the coaching staff has analyzed Chytilâ€s tendencies when carrying the puck in an effort to minimize his risk of injury.  

“We want to be more of a team that tries to fill those three lanes and enter at level but then always has that inside drive, which will stop a lot of the movement at the blue line, where I think maybe heâ€s picked up some injuries as far as the east-west game,†Foote said. “You see an east-west game happen, thatâ€s where a (defenceman) will jump up on him and catch him on a bobbling puck.  

“Heâ€s got so much skill. He can skate. But weâ€re going to keep grinding on how weâ€re going to play as a group. Once he gets to those landmarks, then that skill set will take over. Heâ€s a great kid. He loves to learn, and heâ€s all for it.†

The Canucks had the leagueâ€s least prolific rush attack in each of Tocchetâ€s two full seasons, finishing last in rush scoring chances per game in both years. Foote said last week that he wants the team to “get better at striking faster,†which suits Chytilâ€s style of play.

Early indications at training camp are that Chytil could start the season centring veteran newcomer Evander Kane and top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki. Kane did not play last regular season while recovering from multiple surgeries, but recorded six goals and 12 points in 21 playoff games with the Edmonton Oilers. The 21-year-old Lekkerimaki, who has appeared in 24 NHL games, had 19 goals and 28 points in 36 AHL games last season.  

Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford told reporters Wednesday that general manager Patrik Allvin “was on the phone almost on a daily basis†during the off-season in search of another centre, “but either players werenâ€t available that he wanted or the prices were sky high.†Allvin added that the Canucks are “open for business†when it comes to addressing that critical position.  

But for the moment, Rutherford said he is satisfied with the Canucks†collection of centres.  

“I think the centres we have are good,†Rutherford told reporters, “as long as they stay healthy.† 

Chytil has struggled to do that, and there is plenty riding on his availability this season.  

“There was a reason why he was drafted in the first round (in 2017) and (started playing) in the National Hockey League really early,†Allvin told NHL.com last month. “He’s still a good player. We still believe it. I think he recognizes that, and he was very happy and excited to be part of the Canucks and coming into Vancouver and getting to know the city and his teammates and all that, so I think he will come in with more confidence.†

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