NHL: Canucks C Filip Chytil (face) out indefinitely after practice injury

Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil will miss an indefinite amount of time because of a facial fracture that he sustained during a practice drill, head coach Adam Foote said Friday.

A shot hit Chytil in the face on Wednesday as the Canucks prepared to return from the NHL's ongoing Winter Olympics' break.

"I think it went off one of our defenseman's skates and skipped up. Really some bad luck for him," Foote told reporters, adding specialists are evaluating whether Chytil needs surgery.

Even a pause from the schedule was damaging to Chytil's health. Concussion issues, a persistent problem throughout his nine-year career, have limited him to 12 appearances this season and contributed to his omission from Czechia's Olympic roster.

The 26-year-old has three points (all goals) in his first full season with Vancouver, which acquired him from the New York Rangers in January 2025 as part of the trade return for J.T. Miller.

A whiplash injury ended Chytil's season last March after he tallied 13 goals and 26 points in 56 games for the Rangers and Canucks. He made only 10 appearances in the 2023-24 season.

The No. 21 overall draft pick in 2017, Chytil has totaled 80 goals and 173 points in 405 career games.

The Canucks' dismal season -- they rank last in the NHL with 42 points in 57 games -- resumes at home next Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets.

-Field Level Media/Reuters