Canucks: Why Filip Chytil stays in the fight to get concussion recovery right

“I feel so good.”

That was Filip Chytil’s smiling summation to Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote when the Canucks’ centre took a big step on the precarious path of concussion recovery late last month.

Clad in a red non-contact jersey during a morning game-day skate at Rogers Arena, there was no sensitivity to light, no headaches or nauseous feeling. Only joy to return to a game that has been his life and purpose.

Chytil can envision a day of full-practice participation in a regular jersey during a lengthy six-game road trip crammed into 10 days — it opens Tuesday in Buffalo against the rejuvenated Sabres — to eventually come off injury reserve to play after suffering his sixth career concussion on Oct 19.

Chytil was still skating in a red jersey during Monday’s practice and his never-give-up bravado is difficult to comprehend. Why would any player risk long-term health by continuing to purse an NHL career after multiple brain bruises from brutal blows to the head and the whiplash effect of being drilled so hard? The simple answer is it’s hard to take the stick away from any player, even with Chytil knowing the next concussion could end his career.

All this was presented to Chytil in late September after absorbing a heavy reverse shoulder hit from former New York Rangers linemate Kaapo Kakko one minute into a pre-season test against the Kraken in Seattle. He suffered no concussion symptoms and was understandably upbeat.

Chytil had started training in May and believed four good months had put him in a good place.

“I’m ready,” said the 26-year-old Czech Republic native. “I’m not thinking about it (concussions) at all. I understand people are worried about it, but I know my body and what’s going on. I’m working to stay on the ice as much as I can and play a full season finally.”

And when you add healthy productivity to the equation, plus the Canucks’ need for a big, strong, 6-foot-2, 210 pound centre to drive play and be hard to play against, you get the Chytil conundrum. He knows he can contribute and has another year left on his contract at a palatable US$4.4 million. He could also get hurt again.

Last season, in 15 games before being concussed by Jason Dickinson in a brutal sideboards blow from behind on March 15, the key acquisition in the J.T. Miller trade was playing as advertised. He ranked first in club scoring chances (42) and rush scoring chances (13). He was second in offensive zone carry-ins (95), possession time (11:28) and expected goals (4.43).

At the time, former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was giddy because he finally had a centre that checked all the boxes. Chytil had speed and control through the neutral zone, could make offensive-zone plays, stand his ground and finish scoring chances.

Fast-forward and that’s the obvious hope when Chytil returns. It also has to be somewhat tempered. Does his head have to be on a swivel? He has to be mindful of wall play and who could aggressively cut off his path through the neutral zone.

That’s what occurred Oct. 19 when big Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson got Chytil in the neutral-zone crosshairs and delivered a devastating hit. After Chytil passed the puck at speed, and then took two strides, he was levelled by a heavy blindside and unpenalized shoulder hit to the upper body from Wilson.

Chytil crumpled to the ice, was dazed, and had to be helped to the locker-room.

The hit was reviewed for a late-attack major infraction, but should have been penalized. And that’s the world Chytil now lives in. He wants to play free and not worry, but every concussion makes you more susceptible to another setback.

It’s what occurred to former Canucks winger Sven Baertschi, who had to retire after multiple concussions and lingering symptoms. He’s now a WHL assistant coach with the Portland Winterhawks.

Baertschi suffered five career-related concussions and the cumulative effect, and susceptibility to repetitive brain bruises, shortened his career. His 2018-19 season came to a crashing halt Oct. 24 in Las Vegas when he suffered his fifth head shot and missed 30 games. He retired from pro hockey in 2023 at age 31.

Perspective is everything with repetitive injuries and sometimes an outside voice is one of reason.

B.C. physician Dr. Harjas Grewal played hockey and soccer growing up. He’s an ardent NHL observer and offers social media analysis on injuries. He suffered a concussion in his final year of hockey and was sidelined for a month. He remains more headache-sensitive.

Grewal weighed in on Chytil’s challenges when reached by Postmedia News on Monday.

“I really like him as a player, but the person has to come first and sometimes you have to acknowledge that continuing to play may rob you of your life after hockey,” said Grewal. “My advice would be to look at his entire life and understand that even if he can have a career which takes him to age 40, there’s still a ton of life after and you want that life to also be enjoyable.

“Is it worth it to return to play and risk another concussion considering you maybe have lingering effects for the rest of your life, which makes it hard to do other activities with your family in the future?

Good question, but only Chytil has the answer.

bkuzma@postmedia.com