Filip Chytil Is Back & the Canucks Now Have a Decision to Make

After missing almost 40 games, Filip Chytil is finally back on the ice with the Vancouver Canucks, and you can tell he’s thrilled. “I’m very close now to being back,” he said. For a player who wants to do nothing but help his team, being sidelined this long is tough—mentally and physically.

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Step by Step: Chytil’s Comeback Plan

Chytil hasn’t rushed the process. He’s followed a carefully planned regimen with trainers and doctors, rebuilding his conditioning while regaining trust in his own body. “I had to go step by step all three months… everything goes as it should,” he explained. The process hasn’t been quick or simple. He understands why that matters. After a good start to the year, the time away forced him to reset physically, and just as importantly, get his head back in the right place.

At this point, Chytil coming back isn’t about where the Canucks finish. It’s about getting comfortable again. About taking shifts, feeling the pace, and trusting that everything holds up. There’s nothing rushed about it. He’s taken it step by step because that’s what a safe return demands. After finding his stride early in the season, the injury pushed him into a reset — physically, yes, but mentally as well.

Chytil Acknowledged How Much the Mental Game Matters

Coming back from a concussion isn’t just about skating; it’s about being mentally ready to handle contact, speed, and split-second decisions. Chytil knows that, and he’s taking no shortcuts. “I had to work on not just the physical side but the mental side as well,” he said. The patience, the small steps, the repetition—they’re all part of getting fully back to hockey life.

Chytil’s return isn’t some dramatic comeback story. It’s quieter than that. It’s the day-to-day work, following the plan, and grinding through months that don’t show up on a stat sheet. Being back isn’t about a personal triumph as much as it is about everything he had to put in to reach this point.

Is Chytil a Trade Piece? Maybe — But Not Yet

From the outside, it’s easy to see why Chytil would come up in trade talk. He’s got real skill, he’s young enough to fit a longer plan, and contenders are always looking for that kind of middle-six depth. But the concussion history complicates everything. Teams don’t gamble assets on uncertainty, and right now Chytil’s value depends almost entirely on one thing: showing he can stay on the ice.

From Vancouver’s side, that makes patience the smarter play. Moving him now would mean selling low, with medical questions front and centre. If he returns, plays regularly, and looks like himself for a stretch, the conversation changes. Suddenly, he’s either a credible part of the Canucks’ retool — or a player whose value actually rises because he’s proven he can handle the grind again.

The Easier Possibility: The Canucks Keep Chytil

There’s also a quieter possibility here: the Canucks simply keep him. Rebuilds aren’t just about draft picks; they’re about finding players who can grow with the next version of the team. If Chytil can re-establish his game, he’s the kind of low-drama, two-way forward coaches trust — and those players don’t grow on trees.

So yes, the trade angle exists. But it’s on hold. For now, Chytil’s return is less about transactions and more about answers. The Canucks need to see what they actually have before deciding whether he’s part of the future — or part of a deal.

Related: The Canucks Are No Longer Wedged in the Middle