The 2020-21 season was set up perfectly to be the one that saw Filip Chytil breakout in a big way and securing his role as the New York Rangers’ second-line center of the future. The former 21st overall pick was lining up behind Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome on the center depth chart and began the season with fellow youngster and future cornerstone Kaapo Kakko on his wing.
The 21-year-old Czech center took advantage of his opportunity and looked to primed to take that next step, getting out of the gate hot with points in three of the Rangers’ first five games of the season only being held off the scoresheet in the opening night full team no-show against the Islanders and in the January 24th game that saw him exit the contest almost halfway through it.