I 100% support the WHL and I don't understand how this in any way could stunt his development. He is 18 and is minimum 3 years away from the NHL. Anyone who thinks he would benefit from being in the Flames system with Flames coaches is right...but that can happen next year and the year after at a minimum!
Without even addressing his defensive game, he needs to adjust to smaller NA ice and entirely different culture off the ice. Wouldn't you rather him dominate on the ice, be a leader and figure out the other stuff instead of playing minimal minutes and potentially hung-out-to-dry by better / older players? He can play AHL in 2016 and 2017!!
Here are the 20 top-drafted D-Men from this year's draft. I know not everyone has the option of the AHL (in fact, probably only four or five of them do)...but I seriously doubt more than one or two actually play AHL this year. So if more than 15 defenders drafted ahead of Oliver are going to play US College or Canadian Major-Junior hockey...I seriously doubt OK playing in the WHL at 18 yrs old will hurt his development. Obviously others are taking that exact same path! Everyone relax and let the kid find some stability and confidence. He can start learning the "Flames System" next year. Or the year after that.
Round 1
Round Num. Drafted By Player Pos Drafted From
1 5 Carolina Noah Hanifin D Boston College [H-East]
1 7 Philadelphia Ivan Provorov D Brandon Wheat Kings [WHL]
1 8 Columbus Zach Werenski D U. of Michigan [Big-10]
1 13 Boston Jakub Zboril D Saint John Sea Dogs [QMJHL]
1 18 Ottawa Thomas Chabot D Saint John Sea Dogs [QMJHL]
1 26 Montreal Noah Juulsen D Everett Silvertips [WHL]
1 27 Anaheim Jacob Larsson D Frolunda Jrs. (Sweden)
1 29 Columbus Gabriel Carlsson D Linkopings Jrs. (Sweden)
Round 2
Round Num. Drafted By Player Pos Drafted From
2 31 San Jose Jeremy Roy D Sherbrooke Phoenix [QMJHL]
2 34 Toronto Travis Dermott D Erie Otters [OHL]
2 37 Boston Brandon Carlo D Tri-City Americans [WHL]
2 40 Colorado Nicolas Meloche D Baie-Comeau Drakkar [QMJHL]
2 43 Los Angeles Erik Cernak D Kosice HC [Slovak]
2 44 Tampa Bay Matthew Spencer D Peterborough Petes [OHL]
2 51 Buffalo Brendan Guhle D Prince Albert Raiders [WHL]
2 52 Boston Jeremy Lauzon D Rouyn-Noranda Huskies [QMJHL]
2 53 Calgary Rasmus Andersson D Barrie Colts [OHL]
2 56 St. Louis Vince Dunn D Niagara IceDogs [OHL]
2 57 Washington Jonas Siegenthaler D Zurich [Swiss-A]
2 60 Calgary Oliver Kylington D Farjestads BK Karlstad [SweHL]
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