NY Rangers projected lineup: Filip Chytil gets long-awaited '2C' opportunity

TARRYTOWN – It took six years of patience and steady growth, but Filip Chytil is finally getting a chance to cement himself as the Rangers’ No. 2 center.

And while, on one hand, the 24-year-old Czech admits that it feels “amazing,” there’s a loud voice in his head reminding him that this is no time for complacency.

“Nobody gives me this spot for free,” Chytil said following Wednesday’s practice at the MSG Training Center. “I’ve got to work for that. I’ve got to play my best game every night, score goals and help the team.”

That explains why, even after securing a four-year, $17.75 million contract extension in March and beginning this new season with a long-awaited opportunity on the second line, Chytil is still one of the last players to leave the ice after every practice.

He’s seen his minutes fluctuate and linemates change enough times to know nothing is set in stone. Any slippage could result in demotion – and he has no interest in loosening his grip on his coveted role.

“I know it can switch quickly, so I don't look at these things too much,” he said. “My mindset is come to the rink every day in the morning and be better than the last day. I know it sounds like a cliché, but for me personally, that's what I’ve believed in my whole life and that's why I'm here. I know I can be an even better player and that's what I'm focusing on.”

New head coach Peter Laviolette has slotted Chytil in between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière, with the former presenting an especially exciting challenge.

Panarin has led the Rangers in scoring four years running, with his unique playmaking ability a source of admiration and intrigue.

“He’s one of the best players in the world,” Chytil said. “It's great to play with him and see how this kind of player looks, how he behaves, what he's doing. I'm always asking him about details because I want to be on that level, as well. I don't know if I’ll do that, but in my head, I'm always trying to be there. He’s a guy I look up to.”

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There’s always been an underlying curiosity about how that pair would mesh.

Chytil’s strengths – speed, quick hands and a dangerous left-handed shot – seem like complementary skills to Panarin’s patience, vision and creative passing.

The initial returns have been encouraging, with their line producing a 60.06 xGF through three games, according to Natural Stat Trick, while outshooting their opponents, 22-10.

"I think we’ve played all three games very well, with high pace, shooting a lot, getting to the net," Chytil said. "We’ve had a lot of chances at five-on-five. It’s going to come. Everything else in the game, I think, is going the right way and the right direction."

Panarin has already racked up four points (one goal and three assists), while Lafrenière was responsible for the Rangers' first goal in a 5-1 opening-night win over the Buffalo Sabres.

Chytil is still searching for his first, which he nearly had in game No. 2 in Columbus on a pretty tic-tac-toe play that was overturned after referees determined one of the passes was offsides. Even though it didn't count, it was an example of how the 6-foot-2, 208-pounder can create quick-strike opportunities by attacking down the middle of the ice.

“You saw it the other night when he came in and busted through the defense, but there’s also a skill set that goes with being able to play with a guy like Panarin,” Laviolette said. “That line, it’s all a little bit different in what they bring to the table, and I like what I’ve seen so far. But again, it’s early. It’s only three games, so I’d like to see it continue.”

Laviolette's clear preference is to use that trio as a scoring line, with 11 of their faceoffs coming in the offensive zone and nine at center ice. They've yet to take a D-zone draw, with those responsibilities reserved for the more defensively inclined lines.

"That would be a position of strength for them on that line to get into the offensive zone," the coach said.

That means there will be ample opportunities for Chytil to build on last season's career high of 45 points (22 goals and 23 assists), so long as he can stay healthy − he's missed a combined 37 games due to injury the past three seasons − and maintain his aggressive shooting mentality.

"When you shoot, it's always creating so many other opportunities after," he said. "That's my style almost my whole life."

The plan is to keep the current lineup intact for a long enough "test drive," as Laviolette put it, to get a true evaluation. With that comes the best chance, not just Chytil, but also Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko have had to solidify spots in the top six.

It's time to find out if they can handle it − past time, you could argue − with early signs indicating they may be up to the task.

"There comes a point in a career where you're not 18 anymore," Laviolette said. "You're not your first year in the league, and you've taken steps to prove that you're a really good player. I think at that point, you have to expand your mind on what the potential is of that player."

NY Rangers (2-1) projected lineup: Game 4 vs. Nashville Predators (1-3)

When: Thursday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.

Where: Madison Square Garden

TV/Radio: MSG Network/98.7 FM

Forwards

Top line ⊳ Chris Kreider (LW) ⋄ Mika Zibanejad (C) ⋄ Kaapo Kakko (RW)

Second line ⊳ Artemi Panarin (LW) ⋄ Filip Chytil (C) ⋄ Alexis Lafrenière (RW)

Third line ⊳ Will Cuylle (LW) ⋄ Vincent Trocheck (C) ⋄ Blake Wheeler (RW)

Fourth line ⊳ Jimmy Vesey (LW) ⋄ Barclay Goodrow (C) ⋄ Tyler Pitlick (RW)

Defensemen

Top pair ⊳ Ryan Lindgren (L) ⋄ Adam Fox (R)

Second pair ⊳ K'Andre Miller (L) ⋄ Jacob Trouba (R)

Third pair ⊳ Erik Gustafsson (L) ⋄ Braden Schneider (R)

Goalies

Starter ⊳ Igor Shesterkin

Backup ⊳ Jonathan Quick

Healthy scratches: D Zac Jones

Injured: Nick Bonino (lower body)

NOTE: This lineup is subject to change.

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Rangers lineup: Filip Chytil gets long-awaited '2C' opportunity