Canucks Put Chytil on IR With Shoulder Strain
Vancouver put Filip Chytil on injured reserve, retroactive to Sept. 24, after he crashed into the boards during a preseason game. General manager Ryan Johnson said the issue is a shoulder strain rather than a concussion and listed Chytil as week-to-week. The injury will keep him out of the season opener.
Vancouver’s decision applies back to Sept. 24, after Chytil became entangled with referee Riley Brace behind the net and went into the boards during a preseason game against Edmonton. He logged 4:54 and one shot before leaving. GM Ryan Johnson characterized the problem as a strained shoulder rather than a concussion and called him week-to-week. He is not eligible to return until Oct. 2, ruling him out of the Oct. 1 opener.
Chytil’s history includes five reported concussions, a March 2025 hit from Jason Dickinson, and facial fractures in February that cut short his 2025-26 campaign. He has appeared in only 12 games last season, has 27 games with Vancouver, and is in the last year of a four-year, $17.75 million deal.
The injury may affect Vancouver’s center depth and early-season performance, with teammates and coaches adjusting roles. Fans could see a familiar player’s career disrupted again, while the club may face questions about managing players with repeated head and upper-body injuries. For Chytil, another absence could influence his contract year and free-agent market.