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Kevin Klein to play in Switzerland, Filip Chytil signs ELC with Rangers |
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In Rangers' news today, Kevin Klein, who just announced his retirement from the Rangers last week, signed a one-year contract to play for the Zurich Lions of the Swiss NLA next season. In addition, Filip Chytil, the second, first round pick of the Rangers this season, signed his entry-level contract with New York.
Kevin Klein:
When Klein retired, he indicated that part of the reason he did so was to spend more time with his family but largely due to his back injury. Playing in Switzerland, which was rumored generically when he was about to retire, as Larry Brooks wrote that he likely would end up in Europe, doesn't come as a big shock. That league's style of play is much less physical than the NHL, which should suit Klein well
Filip Chytil:
This is what I wrote about Chytil after the draft:
Filip Chytil, 21st overall
ISS, ranked 64:
Scouting Report | Draft Sleeper! One of the youngest players available for 2017 draft. Chytil played for HC Ziln in the Czech Extraliga, the top men’s league in the country. Really helped his draft stock with his exceptional play throughout U18 World Championship tournament in Slovakia. He skates well and has good acceleration. He has very good hands and play making ability. Good passer. He has good hockey sense, smart player. Has a nice stride and very good speed. Protects the puck well. Plays in traffic but not a physical player. Needs to get stronger. Has good potential and should get consideration for the CHL Import draft with Pro upside with development
Future Considerations, ranked 70:
Chytil is a speedy player with good hockey sense and offensive skill. He is a very good skater, with very quick feet and balance on his edges that allows him to generate good power from every stride and high-end acceleration in his first few steps. He uses his speed well to carry the puck up ice, into the offensive zone, stopping up along the outside and setting up for some offensive zone time. His vision of the ice helps him to quickly find open lanes to go through with the puck and once moving he is hard to contain when he finds space. Has decent puck skills, although nothing too electrifying, and is able to receive and dish passes at full speed without breaking stride. He is stronger than his size would indicate, hard to knock off the puck showing tremendous puck protection, goes into dirty areas and wins most of his puck battles alongside the board. He is also very active on the forechecking and his long reach helps him to steal the puck from his opponents. He is very sneaky. It is not uncommon to see him work deep in both zones and even throw a hit or two, as he wants to make his presence felt. Chytil is a guy you will need to have patience with as he takes a few seasons to add strength, but he could be well worth it.
McKeen's, ranked 42:
One of the younger prospects available in the 2017 draft (10 days from being a 2018 eligible), Chytil is one of the more under-the-radar dynamic talents available. He spent the majority of his regular season with Zlin, in the Czech Extraliga, playing against grown men. Although his scoring totals were not overly impressive, only Martin Necas outscored him among U18 players. Secondly, he ended league play with very strong scoring in the relegation round, contributing one goal and one assist, as Zlin maintained their standing in the country’s top level.
Although Chytil is still lean, he has a solid frame, suggesting added strength in a few short years. Although his game is still justi ably raw, he displays the entire toolkit on the ice, rating as above average as a skater, shooter, puck handler and for his hockey IQ. When it came time to shine, he continued to impress at both the Five Nations tournament where his smarts and vision stood out, and nished his year with a very strong showing at the WU18 event, with ve points in ve games wearing the national colours.
He will play an East-West game when carrying the puck, and it has worked for him thus far in his nascent career. Currently slated to return to Zlin next season, he is also a player to watch in the upcoming CHL Import Draft. Chytil is a relatively long-term project for whichever team calls his name on draft day, but he has high breakout potential.
Dobber, ranked 75:
Chytil had a quiet draft season with little fanfare after a good performance at the Hlinka helping Czech win the Gold but again played great for the Czech at the end of the year at the U-18 posting a point-per-game in five games. On the strength of that breakout he finished 11th overall on the NHL Central Scouting ranking for European skaters. Chytil is an excellent skater, has a quick first-step acceleration and high-end top gear. His edge work is strong giving him shifty agility and he has the ability to carry and handle the puck at speed. He has good size at 6-0 and is stronger than his 179-pound frame suggests, but still needs to improve here to play at the NHL level. Uses his skating to forecheck and backcheck effectively and has good hockey sense.
Speedy offensive forward (Andreas Athanasiou) 15-15-30
I don't have a big issue with this pick, especially after going safe with the first selection. Chytil is one of the youngest in the draft, missed being eligible for next year's draft by 10 days. Also, he rose 40 spots in the rankings since the mid-season ones came out. New York wanted to grad the fast riser. If there is a criticism, you could say why not do what Chicago did in their trade with St. Louis. Move down to later in the round and grab a third rounder, which New York lacked, or maybe more. In addition, the team passed on Kailer Yamamoto, Ryan Poehling, Eeli Tolvanen. Klim Kostin and Nicholas Hague, the latter one lasting to the second round.
Chytil will be 18-years-old in September, so it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be playing in the NHL next season. He played in the Czech League last year with HC Zlin, scoring four goals and adding four assists in 38 games. He was selected in the CHL import draft by North Bay (OHL) but I doubt he suits up for them. The belief is that he will play in the Czech League again, using the year to get stronger, then come over to the US. A hint of speculation exists that maybe he plays for Hartford next season, but to me, he would be better suited staying overseas a season. Chytil was brilliant in the development camp, and as I have said in the past, he was one of my two favorite picks made by New York in the draft.
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