What Happened
The Vancouver Canucks placed forward Filip Chytil on injured reserve Friday with a shoulder injury, the team announced. Chytil was hurt in Thursday's pre-season loss to the Edmonton Oilers when he was tripped up by an official and went shoulder-first into the boards in the first period. General manager Ryan Johnson told reporters the injury is more of a muscular strain and that Chytil is expected to be week-to-week, meaning he will miss the start of the regular season.
Key Details
- Chytil was placed on IR on Friday, per the team.
- The injury occurred in Thursday's pre-season loss to Edmonton.
- GM Ryan Johnson described it as a muscular strain, week-to-week.
- Chytil left in the first period and did not return.
- The 27-year-old has played 78 of 246 games over three seasons.
- His last mostly healthy year was 2022-23 with the Rangers.
What It Means
Chytil's absence continues a difficult run of availability for the 27-year-old center, who has been limited by concussions and upper-body injuries over the past three seasons. Missing the start of the regular season leaves Vancouver without a veteran option down the middle and adds to the club's early-season roster questions while he recovers.
What's Next
Chytil will be evaluated as a week-to-week case, with no firm return date announced. Vancouver will open the regular season without him and could adjust its forward group while he recovers.