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Canucks: Hard-luck Filip Chytil injured in collision with referee

Chytil got his feet tangled up with referee Riley Brace while on the forecheck and went hard into the endboards.

Published Sep 24, 2026  •  Last updated 2 days ago  •  2 minute read

Filip Chytil and Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks celebrate after defeating the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Arena on February 4, 2025. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images

Filip Chytil has had his share of crunching collisions with opposing players.

They led to a series of career concussions and concerns that the Vancouver Canucks centre may be susceptible to another setback, especially if he kept playing in the middle where big hits often happen.

In the first period Thursday at Rogers Arena, bad luck found Chytil again but in a different and strange variety to end his night early in a preseason meeting with the Edmonton Oilers.

He got his feet tangled up with referee Riley Brace while on the forecheck and went hard into the endboards. His right shoulder took the brunt of the blow and his head snapped back as well to suggest there may have been a whiplash element.

Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra said post game that Chytil was being evaluated for a shoulder injury.

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Chytil didn’t return and his night amounted to five shifts, 4:56 of ice time and winning two faceoffs. The obvious concern now is his health, and if sidelined, does that mean Braeden Cootes starts the season here as opposed to growing his game in the AHL at Abbotsford as an eligible 19 year old?

And it could also mean Aatu Raty is the fourth-line when the regular season starts Tuesday in Edmonton.

Chytil was diagnosed with a facial bone fracture in a freak practice accident at UBC in February. He was struck by a Brock Boeser shot that first struck a skate and then ricocheted off the Plexiglas before hitting Chytil.

Chytil had just returned in a red non-contact practice jersey after suffering migraine headaches during a Feb. 2 game in Salt Lake City. He also missed 44 games after suffering a concussion when dropped by a heavy blindside neutral-zone hit from Tom Wilson on Oct. 19 in Washington, D.C.

In 2024-25, Chytil was limited to 15 games and six points (2-4) after more concussion symptoms, including a brutal hit from behind by Jason Dickson of the Chicago Blackhawks on March 15.

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