Canucks activate Filip Chytil from IR, expected to return vs. Rangers
The Vancouver Canucks are getting a reinforcement to their lineup, as center Filip Chytil has been activated from injured reserve and is expected to return to the lineup for Friday’s game against the New York Rangers.
Chytil had missed the last five games with an upper-body injury after a hit from Darnell Nurse sidelined during October 29th’s 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. While Chytil was announced to only have a day-to-day timeline for return, the Canucks placed him on injured reserve to make room on their roster in his absence. Considering it took more than two weeks for his return, he has more than served the necessary time on IR to be eligible to return, so the Canucks have activated him in advance of Friday’s game.
Chytil finds himself in the midst of another injury-plagued season, as he already missed the first eight games of the season with a shoulder injury. Injuries have been an unfortunately common occurrence for Chytil, as he’s played more than 70 games in a season just twice in his nine seasons prior to this one. In the past four seasons, he’s played just 85 games, including only 34 as a Canuck since joining the team as part of the package for J.T. Miller in late January 2025.
In the seven games Chytil has been healthy for this season, he has just two assists.
Based on the lines ran during Thursday’s practice, Chytil will play on the team’s second line with Paul Cotter and Jonathan Lekkerimaki. This trio has just 2:31 of ice time together this season, with the game being held scoreless in that time, although they have just a 29.84% 5v5 score-adjusted expected goal share in that span, according to Natural Stat Trick. Chytil will also play on the second power play unit with Cotter, Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi and Zeev Buium.
To make room for Chytil’s IR activation, the Canucks placed defenseman Guillaume Brisebois on IR retroactive to his injury on November 9th. It’s unclear what the injury is or what caused it, as it’s just been defined as an undisclosed injury up to this point. He didn’t leave Monday’s 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers either, and even played the final 59 seconds of the third period.
Brisebois has one assist in six games with the Canucks this year.
The Canucks currently sit in last place in the NHL with a 3-16-1 record, and are already 15 points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. They’ll look to snap a six game losing streak when they host the Rangers on Friday at 7 p.m. PDT.
