Filip Chytil finally was a full participant in practice Tuesday for the first time since the first week of training camp, without needing to wear a red non-contact jersey.
The 24-year-old center, who was sidelined for multiple weeks with an undisclosed upper-body injury, assumed the coveted spot on the Rangers’ second line that new coach Peter Laviolette had envisioned for him, alongside All-Star winger Artemi Panarin.
“No more Kid Line,” Chytil declared after practice.
Indeed, after sitting out the entire preseason slate, Chytil appears to be relishing his graduation to the team’s top-six forward corps. at least to open the season Thursday night in Buffalo.
The other erstwhile Kid Line members also have moved up in the pecking order.
Former No.1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere skated Tuesday on the right side on Chytil’s line, with Kaapo Kakko expected to start the year as the right wing on center Mika Zibanejad’s top unit with Chris Kreider.
Panarin has totaled 100 goals and 341 points in 268 games (1.27 per appearance) over his first four seasons with the Blueshirts, including a team-best 92 points in 2022-23.
“I’m happy that I can play with him,” Chytil said. “I’ve said many times, I have to be ready to get the puck everywhere and be ready to shoot.
“He can find me anywhere, so just be ready. Of course, I have to play my game, as well, and help him. You don’t play with these players every day, so it’s nice to be with him on the line. It’s going to be fun.”
After posting career highs in goals (22) and points (45) last season, Chytil is taking the place of veteran Vincent Trocheck, who will center the third line after mostly playing with Panarin in his first season with the Rangers one year ago.
“Fil looks really good to me right now,” Laviolette said of the 6-foot-2 Chytil. “It’s just his size and his speed and his ability to make plays. There’s a lot to like about his game.
“I wish there was an opportunity to see it more in training camp. But with Fil where he was, it wasn’t able to happen. So we’ll go into Game 1 and we’ll take a look at it. But I think that [Chytil and Panarin] can be a good pair together.”
Chytil didn’t disclose the injury he’s been dealing with for several weeks, but the Czech center acknowledged the team took a cautious approach while he was sidelined with the aim of being ready for the season opener against the Sabres.
Even if not playing in any preseason games wasn’t ideal for any player attempting to learn an incoming coach’s system.
“I know I missed preseason games, a lot of practices, a lot of games. I made it a little harder for myself [to learn] a new system before the first game, but it’s still hockey,” Chytil said. “’Nothing changes, and I’m happy that I’m gonna play.
“I’ve played only one game in the last five months, but it doesn’t matter. We have hard practices, we have a lot of competitions during the practice, so nothing changes for me. I’m so excited that I can be back playing the game finally.”
Chytil added that he feels “great” physically, and he believes he can catch up quickly now that he’s back skating full-time with the team.
“The preseason was long, but not for me,” Chytil said. “It was more skating with skill coaches and myself, not the team. So for me, I’m happy [the season] starts in two days. We have a great team.
“I’m getting there with the new system. but it’s so nice to be back. It doesn’t matter what system we play, I just [wanted] to be back by the games.”