Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil will begin the 2026-27 regular season on injured reserve after the team was handed an injury setback involving the center.
Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson announced Friday that Chytil has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Sept. 24, one day after he was hurt during Vancouver’s 2-1 preseason loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Chytil collided with referee Riley Brace while skating toward the boards behind the net late in the first period. He lost his balance and went headfirst into the boards. Chytil left the rink for the locker room and missed the remainder of the game.
Johnson provided an encouraging update on Chytil’s injury, however, explaining that the forward suffered a muscular strain after landing on his shoulder during the collision.
“As nasty as that looked, he came down on the shoulder, and it’s more of a muscular strain,” Johnson said.
Johnson described Chytil as week-to-week and indicated the Canucks have not found anything concerning during their evaluation.
“He was in great spirits this morning,” Johnson said. “Unfortunate bounce for a guy that’s been through so much. We’re just evaluating right now. It’ll be a week-to-week thing, but nothing at this point that is alarming. We’re just glad he’s okay after such a kind of unfortunate spill.”
Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The diagnosis is particularly significant given Chytil’s extensive injury history. He was limited to 12 games last season, scoring three goals, after dealing with multiple health issues, including concussion-related problems, migraines and a facial fracture.
Chytil has appeared in only 27 games for Vancouver since arriving from the New York Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade, recording five goals and nine points. He is entering the final season of his four-year, $17.75 million contract.
The Canucks used injured reserve rather than long-term injured reserve (LTIR), meaning Chytil won’t be absent for the minimum, mandatory 10-game or 24-day period linked to LTIR.
Vancouver will open the regular season on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.
