Chytil has a plan to score more 'dirty goals' for Vancouver Canucks this season
Filip Chytil has been a victim of some rotten luck throughout his NHL career.
He was buried on the New York Rangers depth chart being veteran centres like Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trochek. Then he came to the Vancouver Canucks, where he played big minutes, and had to learn a new system while helping his new team fight for their playoff lives.
The 26-year-old also suffered his fifth career concussion with the Canucks, bringing concerns about his long-term health to the forefront.
Despite all of that, Chytil has a massive opportunity in front of him. The Canucks didn’t trade for a second-line centre this offseason, and general manager Patrik Allvin expressed confidence that the team could roll with Elias Pettersson and Chytil as their top-two centres.
“I’m not putting pressure on myself at all,” Chytil said to the media after the second day of training camp. “I’m just coming to the rink with a smile on my face, coming in early, working hard on the ice.”
Part of Chytil taking the next step includes converting on more of his scoring chances.
“Every season I have a lot of chances, and it’s not showing up at the sheets that much yet,” Chytil said.
He made it a priority this offseason to try and change that.
“I was working a lot on a breakaway. I was working on my shot, and being around the net for rebounds, for tips.”
“I have to get to the dirty areas as well to get the dirty goals. Those are as important as beautiful goals. So I need to focus on that.”
The Kromeriz, Czech Republic native did show a propensity to shoot pucks on net with the Canucks. He fired 11.5 shots-on-net per 60 minutes at even strength last season, miles ahead of any Canuck. The next closest skater was Kiefer Sherwood, who registered 7.2 shots on net per-60 at evens.
The fact that Chytil focused on ways to score more during offseason training, coupled with the fact that has more familiarity with the Canucks now, should give fans reason to believe in his breakout potential this season.
“The four games after I was traded [to the Canucks] was probably the best I played here because I had clear head,” Chytil said. “I was not thinking about anything. Then, I started to talking with coaches, more about system. And it was getting to my head little more. My game dropped a little bit and I was trying to go through that unfortunately, then the injury happened.”
“But yeah, I think now I’m with a clear head again. I’m very excited for being here, and I can’t wait for for this season.”
Health with always be a question with Chytil, but if he can stay healthy, this shapes up to be his best season yet.
“Hopefully I will stay healthy. Because when I’m healthy, I know what I can do.”