Rangers' Filip Chytil describes difficult six months and 'unbelievable' return

RALEIGH, N.C. - Filip Chytil's first NHL action in over six months didn't come with the anxiousness you, or even he, might have expected.

Rather, when the 24-year-old forward arrived at PNC Arena prior to the Rangers' 3-2 overtime win in Game 3 of their second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, he felt like he was right back where he belonged.

"I have to say I was not even that nervous before the game," Chytil said Thursday night, his first public comments since a Nov. 2 concussion that sent his season − and his world − into a tailspin.

"I was just excited that I'm with the guys in the locker room before the game and getting ready to play this game again," he added. "In this building, it's hard to play in, and I was enjoying even that crowd against us. I was enjoying everything. It was a great day and unbelievable win for us."

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There was a time not too long ago when this outcome seemed like an impossibility.

Chytil attempted a comeback earlier this year, but it didn't last long. A scary setback during a Jan. 26 morning skate at Madison Square Garden sent shockwaves through the organization, with the Rangers soon announcing that his season was done.

It was hard not to wonder if his career was in jeopardy given a history of head injuries that one person with knowledge of the situation told lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, includes at least four concussions. But while sources said the 2017 first-round draft pick was adamant about playing again, no one saw this coming.

Chytil couldn't recall exactly when he decided to push for a return this season, but after returning home to Czechia, spending some time with his family and starting to feel like himself again, he pushed any doubts aside and flipped the switch.

"In one moment, I just realized that I wanted to be back, and I did everything for that," he said. "I'm happy they let me in to practice with them. I had full support of my family, my girlfriend most, and here I am right now."

The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder returned to New York toward the end of the regular season and took the ice with the team for the first time in months on Apr. 12. He was medically cleared for full contact at that point, but Rangers were very careful about a slow and steady build-up.

"He’s been working really hard," head coach Peter Laviolette said. "I thought the staff – medical staff, training staff, and even the coaches; skills coach and assistant coaches – did an unbelievable job ramping him up for reentry. He’s been attacking every day to get to that point. We all came to an agreement that time was now approaching."

It had been just about four weeks of practice for Chytil by the time the Blueshirts traveled to Carolina for Game 3, and with a 2-0 series lead, there was no urgent need to rip the band-aid off quite yet. But Laviolette and the rest of the team's decision-makers understood that inserting him for raw rookie Matt Rempe − who, while a captivating story and a fast fan favorite, has barely been used late in playoff games − could potentially take the Rangers to the another level.

That, coupled with tired legs coming off a thrilling 4-3 double-OT win in Game 2 on Tuesday and the series now shifting to the Canes' home ice, convinced them to make the move.

"Knowing we don’t have (last) change any more, we don’t have the ability to pick and choose what we want to do (for matchups), we needed to really try and maximize the bench as much as we could," Laviolette said. "This was a perfect opportunity for him to reenter into the lineup."

On Chytil's very first shift, he absorbed a hit from Carolina forward Jordan Martinook, then dished one out on defenseman Brady Skjei.

It made for a couple hold-your-breath moments, but it was exactly what he needed to alleviate those concerns and quickly get into the flow of the game.

"It was amazing," said a glowing Chytil, who didn't stop smiling for the entire seven-minute interview. "It felt so good. I never felt better that somebody hit me or that I hit anybody. I even got a stick to the face once, and I was, ‘Yeah, give me more.’ It gave me the adrenaline that I missed in the last six months."

He played left wing on the third line with Alex Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko, finishing with five shot attempts, two hits and one takeaway in 12:02 time on ice. Laviolette noted, "He got better and better as the game went on," including a third-period drive to the net in which he flashed the speed-and-skill combination that made him one of the Rangers' most dynamic young forwards. But Chytil also recognizes he has a long way to go to regain top form after such a long layoff.

"It’s not the Filip who's always (been) here, ready for the season or who was playing last time," he said. "But I'm here. I know I can help the team, and I will do everything for every teammate in his locker room."

Whatever impact he can make will be a welcomed bonus for these Rangers.

They'll look to complete their second straight playoff sweep when the puck drops in Carolina for Game 4 on Saturday at 7 p.m., giving Chytil another chance to shake off the cobwebs. He was a highly effective third-liner during the 2022 run to the Eastern Conference Final and followed that with a breakout 22-goal season to earn a four-year, $17.75 million contract extension last year, but production is less of a concern right now than ongoing good health.

That's finally working out in his favor, making for an inspiring comeback, an emotional return and an unforgettable night.

"This team is unbelievable, what they did without me for a whole season," he said. "But I know with me, we can be even better. I just love this team. I love these players. I love everybody in this organization."

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: Filip Chytil describes difficult six months and 'unbelievable' return