It’s inevitable that the first game of the year will feature plenty of rust.

Timing is off, new linemates are still sorting each other out.

In that rust, those that are clicking together instantly stand out. In Thursday’s 5-1 win for the Vancouver Canucks over the Calgary Flames , it’s doubtful anyone would disagree that the trio of Filip Chytil, Arshdeep Bains and Conor Garland stood out.

Bains’ smart positioning and fine passing talents were on display, and so was Garland’s bulldog spirit. It has the makings of an intriguing second line and the engine to that is Chytil. It was always going to be. And the way he played Thursday was a fine display of the kind of play that so intrigued scouts in his draft year.

The New York Rangers grabbed him 21st overall in 2017, the same year

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