The North Bay Battalion hopes of getting reinforcements from the New York Rangers took a huge hit today.
Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced that the team has assigned Filip Chytil to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
The Battalion took the Czech forward with the seventh overall pick in this summer's CHL Import Draft, just days before the young centre was taken 21st overall in the NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers.
Chytil, 18, has skated in two games with the Rangers this season and averaged less than six minutes of ice time in the two contests.
He made his NHL/Rangers debut on Oct. 5 vs. Colorado, becoming the fourth-youngest player to appear in a game with the Blueshirts in franchise history.
Chytil surprised many and was named the top rookie in training camp by the New York media to beat out Lias Andersson, who was taken 7th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, for a spot on the Rangers opening day roster.