The Filip Chytil experiment has been put on hold in New York.
The Rangers on Tuesday announced the 18-year-old forward has been sent to their AHL affiliate in Hartford after a short-lived, two-game trial in the NHL.
It was a surprise Chytil, drafted 21st overall in June, made the opening-night roster in the first place. Having turned 18 in September, he was the youngest player in the NHL, but the talented Czech enticed with his offensive upside during training camp and was given a spot despite a lack of professional experience.
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The Rangers have nine games to evaluate the rookie before activating his entry-level contract. Apparently, they've seen enough.
In Chytil's two games — losses to the Avalanche and Maple Leafs — he saw only 20 shifts for a total of 12 minutes, 40 seconds on ice. He failed to register a point, took a tripping penalty in the opener and won one of seven faceoffs. That's about as nondescript as debuts come, but he wasn't exactly given the chance to thrive.
On Monday, the Rangers claimed veteran forward Adam Cracknell off waivers from the Stars, an indication Chytil's tryout days were likely numbered.
It's possible Chytil will appear in the NHL again this season, depending on his performance with the Wolfpack. But at this point it seems the NHL is not the ideal spot for his development, so long as the Rangers are in a position to compete for a playoff spot.
