Rangers Lock Up Filip Chytil For Four More Years

Well this sure came out of nowhere…

Rangers sign Chytil to four year extension at AAV of $4.375M. Outstanding.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) March 29, 2023

 

Not exactly contract season when quality teams are focused on the home stretch and playoffs, but when the opportunity arises to lock up one of your key core young pieces on the precipice of a full-fledged breakout you do it - and that's what Chris Drury has done. After last year's deep playoff run and the birth of the Kid Line, the 23 year-old Filip Chytil entered his fifth full season with high expectations and man, has he delivered. After an early career full of slumps and injuries Filthy Fil has buried 22 in 66 games and is set to double his former career-high point total despite playing 3rd line minutes & minimal power play time. Only Artemi Panarin has more 5x5 goals for the Rangers than Fil's 17 and if you break it down by per-60, you'll find him tied for 28th in the entire NHL - lighting the lamp at the same clip as some dude named Alex Ovechkin.

Is that good?

His evolution has been slow but there's no doubt this kid is finally harnessing that size speed & skill that made him one of the youngest players drafted in 2017 with New York's second first-rounder. He's skating with confidence, making plays out of nothing, getting pucks to the net and continuing to develop chemistry with the rest of the Kid Line that will undoubtedly play a significant role in any postseason success. Just like it did last year. Chytil's growth alongside Kakko & Lafreniere makes this squad deep & dangerous - and in the event of injury up the middle, there's little question as to whether Chytil can step up anymore.

This summer got a lot less worrisome for the Blueshirts. There are kids due raises and, with the cap not going up much for another year, it was a big question as to how they were gonna fit them all. Chytil had the biggest potential payday coming headed into his second-to-last RFA year after finishing off a 2/$2.3M bridge deal. Or he could've resisted a multi-year pact. Waited until after another successful postseason campaign for negotiations. Signed for a year & bet on himself to drive up his long-term price tag even more. Maybe even an offer sheet. Instead the Rangers were able to ink #72 through the '26-'27 season, including his first two UFA years, at an absolutely manageable $4.375M per. A hearty raise for his wallet and a beautiful number for the team that will be outright robbery once the cap gets the boost it should prior to '24-'25.

With playoffs clinched and Chytil locked up, all sights are set on tomorrow's matchup that may very well determine home ice for the first round battle between NY & NJ. If Fil looks a little sluggish for the tilt, give him a break. It's gotta be hard to wheel at top speed with all that new coin in his pockets.

VIVA LA BLUESHIRTS!!!!