Canucks practice stops suddenly after Filip Chytil takes scary head shot
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Daniel Lucente
Feb 18, 2026 (5:36 PM)
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Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Filip Chytil got clipped in the head and Vancouver Canucks practice stopped cold, a scary moment that sucked the air out of the rink.
It happened during a mini-game, not some slow drill where everyone has time to dodge. One heavy snap shot sailed high and caught Chytil while he was parked near the net.
The reaction was instant. Sticks went down, heads snapped over, and the whole sheet went quiet.
That is the part that hits you. Not the shot itself, but how fast the vibe turns from loose to serious.
Jeff Paterson reported Chytil looked dazed as he left the ice. That is never a phrase you want attached to a player with any recent head issues.
The Canucks are already managing a lot, and this one felt like bad luck piled on bad timing.
Reports later in the day said Chytil was being evaluated and would undergo X-rays.
He had also been dealing with migraines and missed the Canucks’ February 4 game, which makes any fresh head contact feel even more alarming.
Filip Chytil scare jolts the Vancouver Canucks
If you’re a Canucks fan right now, you’ve probably got that tight, tired feeling of waiting for the next thing to go wrong.
Chytil has 3-0-3 in 12 games this season, but his value is bigger than the points. He’s a pace driver who can stabilize a line when the game gets messy.
The scary part is how normal it looked until it wasn’t. A one-timer that rides up is just hockey, until it finds a helmet.
For coaches, that is also a reminder that “practice speed” still comes with real risk.
Vancouver’s record sits at 18-33-6, so every healthy body matters, especially down the middle.
Their next game is Wednesday, February 25, and Chytil’s status is now one of the first things to watch.
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Previously on HockeyLatest
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 18|160 ANSWERS Canucks practice stops suddenly after Filip Chytil takes scary head shot Should the Vancouver Canucks reduce mini-game intensity after the Filip Chytil scare? | ||
| Yes | 76 | 47.5 % |
| No | 84 | 52.5 % |
| List of polls | ||