Former NHL GM Actively Calls For Vancouver Canucks' Filip Chytil to Consider Retirement
Photo credit: Matt Marton - Imagn Images.
A former National Hockey League General Manager believes that it's time for Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil to start considering retirement.
2025 hasn't been an easy year for Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil as just over a month after being traded to the organization, he suffered a concussion after being hit by Jason Dickinson, which put an end to his season.
Chytil worked extremely hard over the summer with the hope that could become an effective top-six player for the Vancouver Canucks and while he did look like one early on, the 26-year-old unfortunately suffered another suspected head injury on Sunday following an open ice hit from Tom Wilson, with the club placing him on injured reserve earlier this week.
While it hasn't been confirmed yet if Filip Chytil is dealing with a concussion, but if he is, one former NHL General Manager believes it might be time for him to hang up the skates.
Former NHL GM believes it's time for Filip Chytil to consider retirement
During an appearance on Donnie & Dhali this week, former National Hockey League General Manager and scout Craig Button believes that Filip Chytil needs to start thinking about retirement and his life after hockey.
"I'll be straightforward with it Rick and not duck it. I'll give a little background on why I take this position. To me, it's time to have the hard conversation with Filip Chytil that he may have to retire and he may need to think about another profession and that's a hard conversation to have." Button said.
He added, "I was in Calgary with Brad Werenka and when he had his last shift, it was the cumulative effect of the previous concussions. It was a really innocent type of play, Brad was spinning off a hit, his head hit the glass and it was the last time he played in the NHL. He was 18 months where literally he was in a dark place. Like, his wife couldn't leave him alone with the kids, she had to bring in a babysitter. The great story is, Brad got to the right side of it and he ended up going to law school, he's a practicing lawyer in Calgary and that's a great thing.
The second one, and it doesn't have nearly as nice of an ending, is Steve Montador. We signed Stevie in Calgary, I loved Stevie, I talked to Stevie two days before he passed away and he was somebody who was always trying to find to get on the right side of it and he was never able to do that.
And that's why, for me, I would be sitting down with Filip Chytil, representatives, his family and say 'You have to think about this' because the next one could be the one that's devastating."
He added, "I was in Calgary with Brad Werenka and when he had his last shift, it was the cumulative effect of the previous concussions. It was a really innocent type of play, Brad was spinning off a hit, his head hit the glass and it was the last time he played in the NHL. He was 18 months where literally he was in a dark place. Like, his wife couldn't leave him alone with the kids, she had to bring in a babysitter. The great story is, Brad got to the right side of it and he ended up going to law school, he's a practicing lawyer in Calgary and that's a great thing.
The second one, and it doesn't have nearly as nice of an ending, is Steve Montador. We signed Stevie in Calgary, I loved Stevie, I talked to Stevie two days before he passed away and he was somebody who was always trying to find to get on the right side of it and he was never able to do that.
And that's why, for me, I would be sitting down with Filip Chytil, representatives, his family and say 'You have to think about this' because the next one could be the one that's devastating."
Head injuries aren't something that should be messed with and Filip Chytil certainly knows that because of the amount he's suffered during his time in the National Hockey League, which is why he should at least talk about retirement with his family.
It won't be an easy conversation to have, as Craig Button mentions, but it's something that has to be talked about as absolutely no one wants to see him sustain another concussion upon his return to the ice, whenever that may be.
For now, Chytil remains on injured reserve, retroactive to Sunday, October 19th, and it's unclear as to when he could be back on the ice for practice, even in a non-contact sweater.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 22|1542 ANSWERS Former NHL GM Actively Calls For Vancouver Canucks' Filip Chytil to Consider Retirement Do you think Filip Chytil needs to consider retirement due to his injury issues? | ||
| Yes | 1327 | 86.1 % |
| No | 215 | 13.9 % |
| List of polls | ||