2017-18 Season In Review: Filip Chytil

Filip Chytil registered three points (one goal, two assists) in nine games with the Rangers, and was one of six 18-year-olds who played at least one NHL game during the season (Hischier, Tippett, Tolvanen, Formenton, and Necas). He won the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award as the Top Rangers rookie in Training Camp; became the first Ranger to win the award in the same year he was selected in the NHL Entry Draft since Dan Blackburn in 2001, and became the fourth player to win the award in the same year they were drafted, along with Blackburn, Novak (2000), and Manny Malhotra (1998). Chytil made his NHL debut on Oct. 5 vs. COL; at 18 years and 30 days old, became the fourth-youngest player to appear in a game with the Rangers in franchise history, and the only players who were younger were Harry Lumley (17 years, 42 days on Dec. 23, 1943), Len Wharton (17 years, 81 days on Mar. 4, 1945), and Don Raleigh (17 years, 125 days on Oct. 30, 1943).

The Kromeriz, Czech Republic native became the first 18-year-old to appear in a game with the Rangers since Blackburn on Apr. 13, 2002 at Philadelphia, as well as the first 18-year-old skater (forward or defenseman) to play in a game with the Rangers since Malhotra on Apr. 18, 1999 vs. Pittsburgh (the contest was Wayne Gretzky's final NHL game). Chytil became the first Ranger to wear jersey No. 72 in a regular season game, and he led the Rangers in shots on goal from the time he was recalled on Mar. 25 until the end of the regular season (21 shots on goal in seven games over the span). Chytil allied his first career NHL assist/point and led the Rangers with six shots on goal in 14:23 of ice time on Mar. 26 vs. WSH; became the first teenager to record an assist/point with the Rangers since Malhotra during the 1998-99 season. He ecorded his first career NHL goal and tied for the team-high with four shots on goal on Mar. 30 vs. TBL; became the first 18-year-old to tally a goal with the Rangers since Malhotra in 1998-99 and became the fourth-youngest player to register his first goal for the Rangers.

In the AHL, Chytil registered 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 45 games with Hartford prior to being recalled by the Rangers on Mar. 25. His 31 points were tied for the 12th-most a player younger than 19 years old tallied in one season in AHL history. He led all AHL players younger than 20 years old in goals and points per game (0.69), and ranked second among all AHL players younger than 20 years old in assists and points at the time he was recalled by the Rangers. He posted a plus-one rating while making his AHL debut on Oct. 13 vs. Toronto; became the youngest player to appear in an AHL game since Mario Tremblay in 1974, and he registered three points (one goal, two assists), including his first career AHL goal, assist, and point, tallied the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-three rating while skating in his second career AHL game on Oct. 14 at Springfield. He notched an assist and tied for the game-high with five shots on goal on Oct. 20 vs. Belleville. Chytil Registered four points (one goal, three assists), tied for the game-high with five shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating on Oct. 28 at Lehigh Valley. he tallied two goals, including the game-winning goal, tied for the team-high with four shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating on Nov. 18 at Utica. The 6'2, 202-pound Chytil egistered a point in nine games over a 12-game span from Jan. 13 at Belleville to Feb. 10 at Hershey (four goals, 10 assists during the stretch); posted five multi-point games over the 12 contests, and registered a four-game point streak from Feb. 3 vs. Providence to Feb. 10 at Hershey (two goals, four assists).