New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury continues to show that he knows what he is doing when it comes to being an NHL GM.
On Wednesday night, March 29, he went ahead and signed key youngster Filip Chytil to a four-year contract extension that is worth $17.75 million. This was a great move for many reasons.
For starters, Chytil is showing that he can produce in this league despite still being just 23 years of age. As of this writing (Wednesday, March 29), Chytil has 42 points on 22 goals and 20 assists, all of which are career highs.
His 22 goals are fourth on the team, and he is currently sixth on the team in points. While those may not look great, they are solid for a player who is still very young.
Secondly, because he is still so young, Chytil will only get better. He is not even close to being in his prime, and as he continues to play and get more ice time, his confidence is going to grow.
As Chytil’s confidence grows, there is no doubt that his offensive abilities will continue to shine. He knows how to handle the puck, has a great shot, is not afraid to go to the net, and is also not hesitant to dig the puck out of the corners.
Chytil is also the leader of the “kid line,” which consists of him, Kaapo Kakko, and Alexis Lafreniere. As Chytil goes, so does Kakko and Lafreniere.
When Kakko is going, he is able to use his size and strength to create scoring chances for not only himself but also for Chytil and Lafreniere. When Lafreniere is on top of his game, he can use his vision to find the open man, whether it is Chytil or Kakko.
Lastly, it was a smart move because Chytil is going to be a key part of this team’s core moving forward. Today’s NHL is all about younger players, and by locking Chytil up for the next four seasons, you are guaranteed to have one of the league’s best up-and-comers on your roster moving forward.
With a new contract in tow, do not be surprised if Chytil continues to elevate his game to new heights for the rest of the regular season and into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
