It appears that Blake Wheeler won’t be the only Rangers forward who will be able to return from the sidelines for the Eastern Conference Final. Center Filip Chytil told reporters including Lohud’s Vince Z. Mercogliano that he wants to suit up against Florida although he stopped short of pronouncing himself at 100%. Chytil missed more than six months working back from a suspected concussion and subsequent setbacks and was able to return to the lineup for the third game last round against Carolina. However, he missed the following game due to illness (believed to be a bug going around the room, not a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms) and didn’t suit up in the final two contests. If healthy, Chytil would give New York another threat offensively but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team be extra cautious with the 24-year-old for the rest of the playoffs.
More from the Metropolitan:
- Hurricanes winger Jesper Fast missed the entire postseason due to a neck injury and it appears the extent of it is still unknown. Speaking at his exit interview with reporters including team reporter Walt Ruff (Twitter link), the 32-year-old was still in a neck brace and indicated that he’s still undergoing tests to determine exactly what happened. Fast had 19 points in 73 games during the regular season and will be entering the final year of his contract next season, one that carries a $2.4MM cap hit.
- Penguins prospect Emil Jarventie has signed a one-year deal with Tappara in Finland’s Liiga, per a team announcement. The 19-year-old was a seventh-round pick by Pittsburgh last year, going 217th overall. Jarventie, whose brother Roby plays in Ottawa’s system, spent this season primarily at the second-tier Mestis level with Koovee, picking up nine goals and 12 assists. Pittsburgh has until June 1st, 2027, to sign him to an NHL deal so they can afford to be patient with Jarventie’s development for a while.