Filip Chytil
A Czech center whose dazzling speed and skill made him a first-round NHL pick before his 18th birthday, overcoming early setbacks to become a key offensive piece.
Born 1999 (age 27)·Czech ice hockey player·Birthday: September 5·Generation Z
Biography
Filip Chytil's hockey journey began in his hometown of Kroměříž, Czech Republic, where his raw talent was evident from a young age. He bypassed the traditional Czech developmental league, opting instead for a season in Finland, a move that showcased his adaptability and ambition. The New York Rangers saw enough to select him 21st overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, making him one of the youngest players in the league when he debuted that same year. His early career was a mix of flashes of high-end skill and the typical growing pains of a teenager in the world's toughest league. A breakthrough seemed imminent when he became a consistent scoring threat for the Rangers, but his trajectory was abruptly halted by a series of concerning head injuries that sidelined him for nearly a full season. His resilience was tested, but a trade to the Vancouver Canucks in 2024 offered a fresh start, a chance to reclaim the promise that made him a top prospect and a vital part of the Czech national team's future.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Filip was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Filip Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Filip's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected in the first round (21st overall) by the New York Rangers in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
- Represented the Czech Republic at multiple IIHF World Championships.
- Recorded a career-high 22 goals and 23 assists for the New York Rangers during the 2022-23 NHL season.
Did You Know?
He played professional hockey in Finland's top league (Liiga) for HIFK as a 17-year-old before coming to North America.
Chytil scored his first NHL goal in his very first NHL game on October 5, 2017.
He is known by the nickname 'Chytil' or 'Fil' among teammates and fans.
“I just try to play my game, work hard every day, and help the team win.”
