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<\/p>\nIn eight seasons with the Canucks and New York Rangers, Chytil has exceeded the 30-point mark once and averaged 14:10 of ice time over his nearly 400-game career. His best season came in 2022-23, when he posted 22 goals and 45 points in 74 games as part of the Rangers\u2019 \u201cKid Line\u201d alongside fellow first-round picks Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet, however, played Chytil almost 17 minutes per game after he arrived from New York in the J.T. Miller trade. Although Chytil produced just two goals and six points in 15 games before suffering another head injury, he played like a difference maker in terms of offensive generation. He led the Canucks in scoring chances (42), slot shots on net (27) and completed slot passes (24) during his first six weeks with the team.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over that span, Chytil also excelled at transporting the puck up ice, ranking first on the Canucks with 76 defensive-zone carry-outs and 95 offensive-zone carry-ins. It was an encouraging glimpse of what a healthy Chytil can provide the centre-hungry Canucks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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New Canucks coach Adam Foote told reporters Thursday that the coaching staff has analyzed Chytil\u2019s tendencies when carrying the puck in an effort to minimize his risk of injury.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to be more of a team that tries to fill those three lanes and enter at level but then always has that inside drive, which will stop a lot of the movement at the blue line, where I think maybe he\u2019s picked up some injuries as far as the east-west game,\u201d Foote said. \u201cYou see an east-west game happen, that\u2019s where a (defenceman) will jump up on him and catch him on a bobbling puck.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got so much skill. He can skate. But we\u2019re going to keep grinding on how we\u2019re going to play as a group. Once he gets to those landmarks, then that skill set will take over. He\u2019s a great kid. He loves to learn, and he\u2019s all for it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Canucks had the league\u2019s least prolific rush attack in each of Tocchet\u2019s two full seasons, finishing last in rush scoring chances per game in both years. Foote said last week that he wants the team to \u201cget better at striking faster,\u201d which suits Chytil\u2019s style of play.<\/p>\n
Early indications at training camp are that Chytil could start the season centring veteran newcomer Evander Kane and top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki. Kane did not play last regular season while recovering from multiple surgeries, but recorded six goals and 12 points in 21 playoff games with the Edmonton Oilers. The 21-year-old Lekkerimaki, who has appeared in 24 NHL games, had 19 goals and 28 points in 36 AHL games last season.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford told reporters Wednesday that general manager Patrik Allvin \u201cwas on the phone almost on a daily basis\u201d during the off-season in search of another centre, \u201cbut either players weren\u2019t available that he wanted or the prices were sky high.\u201d Allvin added that the Canucks are \u201copen for business\u201d when it comes to addressing that critical position.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
But for the moment, Rutherford said he is satisfied with the Canucks\u2019 collection of centres.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the centres we have are good,\u201d Rutherford told reporters, \u201cas long as they stay healthy.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chytil has struggled to do that, and there is plenty riding on his availability this season.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n