Injured Vancouver Canucks centre takes another step towards long-awaited return
The Vancouver Canucks have built a nice cushion in the standings.
Thanks to an eight-game losing streak, the Canucks are now four points clear of the NHL’s 31st-placed team, the Winnipeg Jets.
Of course, the trade of Quinn Hughes and yet another injury for Thatcher Demko have been major factors in the team’s downfall, but the lack of credible NHL centre depth has hampered their ability to meaningfully compete in games.
That could change soon.
Filip Chytil has been missing from the Canucks lineup for nearly three months. Three weeks ago, he returned to Canucks practice, where he was spotted in a non-contact jersey.
The 26-year-old centre accompanied the Canucks on the road, although he’s yet to suit up. However, on Thursday, Chytil was spotted in a non-contact jersey for the first time.
Czech-ing in from morning skate. đ¨đż pic.twitter.com/DqXTuXXov3
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 15, 2026
Canucks reporter Olivia McDonald did confirm that, although Chytil skated at the team’s morning skate, he’s not yet an option to return to the lineup.
Foote wasn’t asked about an update on Chytil as he met with the media in Columbus. He told the media at the beginning of the month that the Czech centre was 2-4 weeks away from returning. We’re now nearing the beginning of that window.
Even though Chytil has played in just six of the Canucks 45 games so far this season, there are still only two centres currently in the lineup who have more goals than him: Elias Pettersson and Max Sasson.
Aatu Räty has three goals in 38 games this season, with two of those coming in one game.
David Kämpf has scored twice in 25 games since joining the Canucks in mid-November.
If and when Chytil returns, he certainly isn’t going to rescue the Canucks from the league’s basement.
However, Vancouver has certainly performed better with at least one of Chytil or Marco Rossi in the lineup.
When the Canucks dress either one of those two centres, the team is 9-5-0 this season. Without either pivot, they are 7-20-5.
The Canucks had won four of their first six games when Chytil was first injured on Oct. 19.
After wrapping up their road trip in Columbus, the Canucks will have 10 more games before the Olympic break, including an eight-game homestand starting on Saturday, Jan. 17, versus the Edmonton Oilers.