NHL News: Rangers' Filip Chytil "Medically Cleared" After 5+ Month Absence

A huge and unexpected development for the New York Rangers on Friday, as 20-goal scorer Filip Chytil has been medically cleared for the first time in over five months and was back on the ice skating with the team. 

Filip Chytil is back skating with the Rangers, and has been fully medically cleared.

His status for the playoffs remains unclear.

(via @vzmercogliano) pic.twitter.com/87Hn7NC8pR

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 12, 2024

Chytil, who hasn't played since early November with multiple concussion problems, was itching to get back on the ice, and with the clearance from the docs, he was finally able to do so for the first time since January, when he skated but suffered a setback that put him right back on the shelf. At that time, he was declared 'out for the season' by the Rangers, so this is a big turn of events.

The original incident was a mid-ice collision with Jesper Fast, that left Chytil hurting.

The 24-year-old never returned to the lineup again after that game. 

But today marked an important turning point.

Laviolette on Chytil:

"He looks good out there. There's no timetable on Fil. We're not going to rush him back. Whenever he feels and the eyes on him feel and the powers that be feel that he's in a good spot, that's a different story."#NYR

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) April 12, 2024

Head coach Peter Laviolette said there's no definitive timeline for his return to the lineup and he won’t be rushed: "He looks good out there. There's no timetable on Fil. We're not going to rush him back. Whenever he feels, and the eyes on him feel, and the powers that be feel that he's in a good spot, that's a different story."

Clearly, though, if all goes well and he's in that "good spot", Chytil, coming off a breakout 22-goal season last year, could provide a huge boost for the Blueshirts in the playoffs.