While I wouldn't call the waivers thing as a lazy argument, I will say that it isn't a very good argument.
I don't think that anyone here rates Kylington as a 'blue-chip' prospect. Put any blue-chip prospect on waivers at ANY time, and they get claimed, no questions asked.
Kylington is a 'B-level prospect' to me - some upside, some proven floor already, but didn't show as elite-level at the NHL or AHL level yet. I think you put most of those guys on waivers when teams have to finalize their rosters, they don't usually get claimed. Teams have their own guys that they are pushing through - some of them might be better, some of them might be roughly the same. However, would these organizations like to acquire Kylington for free? Every other organization in the NHL would like to have Kylington for free, and why not? He is a legitimate asset.
I would be shocked if he passed through waivers during the middle of the season. I don't get the argument that because he passed waivers once when every team is trying to finalize their own rosters, that he suddenly has zero value. There is a very large difference in value between "blue chip or elite", "B-level", "C-level" and absolutely worthless. With waivers, timing is an important factor.
I do, however, think that Kylington is essentially worthless to the Flames right now, for as long as Sutter remains the coach at least. He doesn't seem to like Kylington, and prefers Mackey and Stone, and that's fine. I hope he gets claimed this time around and finds a spot with a different organization to get his opportunity. He was really strong in the AHL I thought, and I do think that his defensive ability is actually quite good given his age.
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