Morning Notes: Chytil, Bergeron, Kostka

After trading away their first-round pick in several consecutive years, the New York Rangers selected twice on the first day of the draft picking Lias Andersson at #7, and Filip Chytil at #21. While Andersson is set to try and crack the NHL roster out of training camp, it doesn’t look like Chytil will even be able to take part in the rookie tournament. A report out of the Czech Republic says that Chytil is dealing with a torn leg muscle suffered while playing in the Four Nations tournament.

While this injury hasn’t been verified by the Rangers, it would be a disappointing start to Chytil’s career with the team. He signed an entry-level contract in July, and though he isn’t expected to make the jump to the NHL—he’s just 17 after all—there was still a decision to be made on where he should spend this season. He could have been sent to Canadian junior where the North Bay Battalion selected him seventh overall in this year’s import draft, to the AHL to suit up for the Hartford Wolf Pack, or back to Europe where he could continue to develop on loan.

• Patrice Bergeron underwent sports hernia surgery back in May, but is back on the ice and feels like he’ll be ready for the start of training camp with the Boston Bruins. Bergeron spoke to Matt Kalman of NHL.com, and said even though he’s still getting some treatment for the injury he feels ready enough to start camp. Hernia injuries can linger as we’ve seen in the past, and now at 32-years old it will be interesting to see if Bergeron can get off to a quick start with the Bruins. In the Atlantic Division, where it will be a dog fight for the playoff spots all year long, wasted games in October could come back to haunt them.
• Former NHL defenseman Mike Kostka has signed a tryout with Swedish team AIK, after spending all of 2016-17 in the minor leagues. The undrafted NCAA free agent has played 85 career NHL games, split between Toronto, Tampa Bay, Chicago, New York and Ottawa. At 31, it’s tough to see him make it back to the NHL on a full-time basis, but as always this could open up Olympic consideration. Kostka has never represented Canada on the international stage, but it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him on the roster.