Sherwood has fighting words for Dickinson after he injured his Vancouver Canucks teammate
The Vancouver Canucks are not going to let Chicago Blackhawks centre Jason Dickinson off the hook for his dirty hit in Saturday night’s game.
With the contest virtually finished and the Canucks leading 6-2, Dickinson hit Filip Chytil from behind, knocking the Canucks players out of the game. Chytil has a long history of concussions and was visibly woozy and frustrated when walking down the tunnel.
There was no penalty on the play, and the NHL’s Department of Player Safety did not add any additional discipline. Chytil missed last night’s game and has now entered the concussion protocol. There is no timeline for his return.
Filip Chytil went straight to the dressing room after getting hit from behind by Jason Dickinson. pic.twitter.com/UZytsJyP1N
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 16, 2025
Dickinson didn’t play another shift after the hit and spent the final five minutes on the bench, something that didn’t sit right with the Canucks.
“He’s going to have to answer the bell next year,” said Kiefer Sherwood about Dickinson last night. “I know we don’t play them again, but that was a dirty hit, unnecessary, 6-2, and then he doesn’t have the whatever to step on the ice afterwards.”
Sherwood went on to explain that defenceman Derek Forbort skated by the Blackhawks’ bench and challenged Dickinson, but the Blackhawks centre didn’t play another second.
“It is what it is; we’ll get him next year,” continued Sherwood.
Dickinson played 62 games for the Canucks before being traded to the Blackhawks. He signed a large extension worth $4.25 million per season with his new team last year.
Chytil played just 10 games in the 2023-24 season as he struggled with a concussion. The more concussions you have, the more susceptible you become, and Chytil’s injury history was a known concern when the Canucks traded for him in January.
“He felt okay, nothing great. He’ll go through the everyday, see how he feels kind of thing,” explained head coach Rick Tocchet before yesterday’s game. “He’s had a few in the past. We’ll see how this thing turns out. Sometimes, these things can rapidly turn good, so you’ve got to stay positive on this.”
The Canucks are about to head on a six-game road trip, departing on Wednesday. Chytil’s status for that crucial stretch is still up in the air, and it hasn’t been decided if he’ll make the trip.
Chytil had six points in 15 games for the Canucks before his injury. While those aren’t incredible numbers, he was making an impact on a nightly basis with his speed and ability to transport the puck.
“He’s missed, he’s missed for sure,” said Jake DeBrusk. “Just his speed. It’s one of those things where everyone likes to look at stats, but if you’re looking at the eye test, he’s a player that pushes the pace, in the neutral zone especially, which keeps teams honest.”
The Canucks are barely hanging onto a playoff spot and have three teams, the Calgary Flames, Utah Hockey Club, and St. Louis Blues, chasing them. Chytil’s injury is a huge blow for a team that’s already weak down the middle, and they hope he can make a quick recovery to help them over the final weeks of the regular season.