It’s safe to say Oliver Kylington’s departure from the Calgary Flames last summer was another shocking example of how the NHL’s business side can trump all loyalty and history — whether it’s at the hands of the franchise or the player.
Hindsight is 20/20, but given the struggles he’s had getting into the lineup with the Colorado Avalanche, you have to wonder if he would have done anything differently all those months ago. One thing you can bet on is a complimentary tribute to Kylington from the Flames when they host the Avs on Thursday night.
Kylington had worked his way into fan-favorite status with the Flames, as much for his raw talent and potential as a prospect as his mysterious yet very public battle with maintenance of his mental health over the past couple of years. As he approached unrestricted free agency last season, neither side seemed concerned about getting a new deal done. It seemed like a formality.
After all, the Calgary Flames organization had been very publicly protective and supportive as Kylington took a full season away from the team to deal with his health issues after signing a two-year extension ahead of training camp. He looked like he would return at the start of last season after reporting to camp for the preseason, but needed more time and didn’t make his debut until the end of January. He finished with three goals and eight points in 33 games over the final stretch of the season.
But when it came down to getting some ink on paper, things didn’t go smoothly. Reports were that the Flames were offering the same salary Kylington had earned in his previous pair of seasons with them — even though he played so sparingly. The sticking point there seemed to be term, with the Flames insisting on one or two years and Kylington’s camp interested in more of a commitment.
In the end, the Flames moved on by signing Calgary product Jake Bean to a two-year, $3.5-million deal on the first day of free agency. A month later, Kylington inked a one-year deal with the Avalanche worth $1.05M.
Related: How Former Flames Defenceman’s Gamble Backfired in Free Agency
Kylington had an impressive nine-goal, 31-point breakout campaign in 2021-22 — his first and only full year in the NHL. Maybe he can back to that level, but the 27-year-old defenseman has struggled to get on the ice this season for a couple of reasons.
One, the Avalanche are very deep on the back end. Two, Kylington has missed significant time with injury, and was only activated off the IR this week. He’s appeared in eight games for the Avs so far and hasn’t played since Nov. 27.
With Josh Manson injured earlier this week, it’s expected Kylington makes his return to the ice against his former Flames team, which makes him a player to watch.
