With Chytil out, who should the Rangers acquire?
General manager Chris Drury envisioned a forward group grounded by their center depth when constructing the New York Rangers.
The vision was coming to fruition for the first ten games, with the Rangers rolling four lines and a top nine featuring three talented centers.
Mika Zibanejad, Filip Chytil, and Vincent Trocheck solidified the middle of the top nine, but all that changed on Nov. 2.
While receiving a pass on a power play against the Carolina Hurricanes, Chytil collided with Jesper Fast -- getting the better of the collision -- before leaving the game a few shifts later.
The suspected concussion suffered by Chytil due to the hit was worrisome on many levels. Head injuries are scary in their own right, but the 24-year-old has a history of concussions that added additional cause for concern.
The Rangers have classified Chytil's injury as upper body.
Rangers’ brass allowed Chytil to return to his native Czechia for three weeks to rehab, hoping he could return at some point this season.
Chytil returned, traveling back to New York on Jan. 22, eventually rejoining his teammates in practice donning a red non-contact jersey.
Before the Rangers' contest with the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 26th, Chytil was among the few Blueshirts participating in a rather optional morning skate.
Unfortunately, the former first-round selection suffered a setback during the skate, which was related to the head injury, which will keep him out for the remainder of the season, per a team report on Jan. 28.
While everyone hopes Chytil makes a full recovery and can return for the 2024-25 season, the Rangers must now look towards filling the void for the rest of the season and possibly beyond.
Times have been turbulent of late for the Blueshirts, who enter their bye week and the All-Star break after a 5-7-2 January.
Additions are needed, and with Chytil out for the season, the depth down the middle has a large vacancy.
With Chytil on Long-Term Injured Reserve, the Rangers have $5.237 million in available deadline cap space, per CapFriendly.
Here are three players who stand out as targets whom the Rangers can pursue.
SEAN MONAHAN
Monahan is one of the most attractive options on the market, given his production combined with his low salary of $1.985 million.
The former Flames center is on pace for over 20 goals for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
His affordability would allow Drury to strengthen the middle while maintaining the flexibility to go out and strengthen the blue line or wing.
The 29-year-old has 13 goals and 22 assists for the Montreal Canadiens, winning 55 percent of his faceoffs, a metric that fits with the Rangers' success in the dot this year.
ELIAS LINDHOLM
Lindholm is intriguing, as with the flexibility to play both center and wing that pairs with a responsible two-way game.
The Calgary Flames forward is in the final year of a six-year deal worth $4.85 million annually.
Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reported back in late September that the Flames had halted all contract negotiations with their pending unrestricted free agents, including Lindholm, and given how their season has gone, one would think Lindhollm will definitely be on the move.
The 29-year-old has nine goals and 23 assists for 32 points in 2023-24, winning 55.5 percent of his draws as the Flames No. 2 centerman.
ADAM HENRIQUE
Adam Henrique is another option and a player Rangers fans are all too familiar with.
He has been a thorn in the franchise side for years, dating back to his time as a member of the New Jersey Devils, when he scored the series-clinching goal to send Jersey to the Stanley Cup Final over the Rangers.
The 33-year-old is a UFA at season's end, carrying a cap hit of $5.825 million.
Henrique has 15 goals and 17 assists for the lowly Anaheim Ducks and has won 53.4 percent of his faceoffs.
The veteran forward can also play the wing, offering similar flexibility to Monahan and Lindholm.
Drury must decide what he is willing to part with in each of these deals and make one of them happen.
The franchise should be hesitant to include a first in any deal, especially with the future of Chytil up in the air.
Holding onto as many future assets as possible is as crucial to the success of this deadline as adding depth. The Rangers would likely need some retention in a deal to acquire either Lindholm or Henrique, whereas Monahan’s cap would fit without any additional maneuvering.
Ideally, the Rangers find a partner for Barclay Goodrow’s contract, freeing up additional money for this year's deadline.
Goodrow’s poor play and 15-team no-trade list will make that a massive hurdle for an in-season move and may not be a realistic option.
If Drury cannot move Goodrow, the Rangers’ cap situation is tight, and the deadline needs of a center, wing, and defenseman likely won’t all be met.
The most pressing need, however, remains a center. With Chytil out of the season and his future very much in doubt, the Blueshirts need help now down the middle.
Johnny Brodzinski, Adam Edstrom, and even Brennan Othmann could all play the wing to enhance the depth if one cannot be added, making a move for a center all the more critical.
It is unfortunate to see the severity of the injury for 24-year-old Chytil. Hockey is just a game, and his long-term health must precede a return to the lineup.
The question remains: does Drury mind moving assets to go outside the organization to fill the Chytil hole, or will he try to get the most out of players in the system?