Filip Chytil is set to make his season debut Thursday night when the Vancouver Canucks meet the Florida Panthers in south Florida. The center, who started the season on injured reserve after hurting his shoulder in pre-season, is back in the lineup after returning to practice with teammates earlier this week.
The Canucks reshaped their forward group around the move. Chytil will center Paul Cotter and Brock Boeser, while Drew O’Connor shifts back to his preferred left wing spot and skates with Max Sasson and Brendan Gallagher.
That lineup change gives the Canucks a healthier look for a game that matters now because it is happening now. Chytil’s injury began in pre-season, when he collided with an official and crashed into the end board, and his return gives Vancouver another center option on a night when the game itself is already drawing attention.
There is still a second roster issue hanging over the lineup. The Canucks put Aatu Raty on waivers Wednesday, and they will know at 11 a.m. PT Thursday whether he has been claimed by another team. That means one move is already locked in for game night and another is still unsettled as the clock runs toward the deadline.
There is also a sharp edge to the matchup on the other bench. Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk combined for nine points Tuesday in a 7-3 win over the Blue Jackets, with Brady Tkachuk scoring a natural hat trick and Matthew Tkachuk finishing with five assists. The brothers have built a reputation for piling up points and annoyance in equal measure, which adds another layer to a Canucks vs. Panthers night that already carries roster stakes for Vancouver.
For Chytil, the night is a simple marker after a difficult start: he is back, the Canucks are rearranging around him, and the next confirmed answer for Vancouver arrives with the waiver deadline. By 11 a.m. PT, the club will know whether Raty is still part of the picture when the puck drops later Thursday.
