Reports: Rangers F Filip Chytil helped off ice at practice

New York Rangers forward Filip Chytil was helped off the ice at practice Friday morning, a day after he returned to the team as he recovers from a suspected head injury, multiple outlets reported.

Chytil was observed down on the ice for several minutes at the team's optional morning skate, though the reason he was sent to the ice was not clear. He left the Madison Square Garden ice with assistance from teammates Zac Jones and Jake Leschyshyn and the Rangers training staff.

Chytil, 24, was placed on injured reserve after sustaining an upper-body injury on Nov. 2 in a win over the Hurricanes when he collided with Carolina star Sebastian Aho. He had six assists through 10 contests to start the season.

At practice Thursday, he wore a red, non-contact practice jersey and mostly worked away from his teammates.

Minutes before the incident Friday, coach Peter Laviolette told reporters the goal was to work during the upcoming All-Star break toward Chytil's eventual return.

"We're looking to ramp it up with Fil as we move through here, yes," Laviolette said, per the New York Post. "I think every day it increases the workout intensity, the duration, the difficulty of it. You start somewhere and you start increasing that to get to a place where you can come back and participate in a game and be an effective player."

Chytil is still on long-term injured reserve. The Czech recently returned to New York after rehabbing overseas.

Last March, the Rangers signed Chytil through the 2026-27 season to a four-year, $17.75 million contact extension.

New York selected Chytil with the No. 21 overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft. In his six-plus seasons with the Rangers, he has appeared in 337 games and tallied 144 points (64 goals, 80 assists).