[Rumour] Kylington to test free agency

[Mitts]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

All you have to do is read this thread if you wonder why more people don't open up about mental health issues.

It's being used as ammunition against Kylington here (from a few posters). Why are we even assuming anything. He could want a fresh start. Or, he may be negotiating with another team, which he has every right to do.

Or maybe he just sat at home playing xbox while the Flames paid him for doing nothing because he didn't feel like playing for Sutter. The real world deals with mental health issues on their own time, and don't get paid millions to do nothing, as a matter of fact they don't get paid at all if they don't work. Good riddance. Now he wants more money for doing nothing, ultimate betrayal of a team who backed him and kept their silence while paying him. They could have suspended him when he didn't show up for camp instead they supported him the whole way.

[2ArmBands]

Hope the best for Kylington. I imagine just cause the guy came back and played some hockey doesn’t mean his battle is over. I’ve changed my tone on the whole issue. I was very irritated at first but ultimately you can’t hound on a guy trying to do what’s best for him. Reality is that none of us understand the situation better than he does.

From a pure hockey stance I didn’t find him to be all that great of a hockey player. Sure the situation sucks but I don’t think the Flames are going to be wishing he was still around. Very average depth dman at best in my eyes.

[Goriders]

Maybe hockey is not his ultimate calling.

Per above. It doesn’t really matter anymore. He made his choice and he’s not on the team anymore.

The world is his oyster now. He can do whatever he wants.

[PepsiFree]

Since we’re now at the “making things up to justify our ####ty behaviour” stage of things, here’s the actual timeline, for the business boys who know a thing or two about what you can post on social media:

May 2022 - OK posts a thank you to fans for all the support
July 2022 - OK posts pictures of himself with some friends
August 2022 - OK signs a contract extension
September 2022 - It’s announced he won’t be at training camp due to a personal issue, the team requests privacy for the player
September 2022 - May 2023 - OK doesn’t play a single game, doesn’t post anything, and there are no substantive updates from anyone
April 2023 - OK posts a video of himself training, and Johnny Oduya posts a video of OK doing skating drills in a Flames practice jersey
July 2023 - OK posts pictures for the first time in a year, including the yacht pictures and a picture of him training in a Flames practice jersey
August 2023 - OK posts more pictures of him enjoying himself
September 2023 - OK comes to Calgary and poses for promotional photos with the Flames
September 2023 - It’s announced that Kylington was not cleared by the Flames’ medical staff and will not participate in training camp
January 2024 - Kylington returns to the Flames’ lineup

So, if you want to judge him for pictures, go nuts. But if you want to bull#### about him being on a yacht while on a paid leave? That just makes you look silly. The idea that players can hang out on a yacht in February during All-Star weekend but OK can’t in July (while having been actively training for months and expecting to return right up until September) is petty and weird.

That’s why nobody is taking the “Oh you can be supportive but still judge him!” thing seriously, as it’s not coming from serious people.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

All you have to do is read this thread if you wonder why more people don't open up about mental health issues.

It's being used as ammunition against Kylington here (from a few posters). Why are we even assuming anything. He could want a fresh start. Or, he may be negotiating with another team, which he has every right to do.

Im not using it against him other than the fact he didnt play most of the last two years onviously hurts NHL contract asparations.

Also, we know he countered the Flames offer with one that would pay him more for more term.

[Parallex]

Okey, here's my take... Kylington and Flames owe nothing to each other. If a team was uneasy signing a player for a certain amount of time and/or a certain amount of dollars over a physical health concern I would understand it and by the same token if a team was uneasy signing a player for a certain amount of time and/or a certain amount of dollars over a mental health concern I also understand that. A professional sports career is short so I also understand if Kylington wants more security then the Flames are willing to offer.

I hope they eventually do come to terms because I like Oliver Kylington and I'd like him to remain a Flame but if they don't then I'd like to wish him all the best in whatever comes next for him in life and work.

[#-3]

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Mitts

Or maybe he just sat at home playing xbox while the Flames paid him for doing nothing because he didn't feel like playing for Sutter. The real world deals with mental health issues on their own time, and don't get paid millions to do nothing, as a matter of fact they don't get paid at all if they don't work. Good riddance. Now he wants more money for doing nothing, ultimate betrayal of a team who backed him and kept their silence while paying him. They could have suspended him when he didn't show up for camp instead they supported him the whole way.

I mean, when I was on leave I still got paid my wage. Which aren't millions but is propitiate to my skill and level of experience in my industry. Which is what most NHL players make in their industry. I love how generally folks who players salaries against them like it's not the billionaires that own the teams are more truly being our class enemies who 'do nothing'.

NHL players are just getting their cut of the pie and being compensated for selling their labour like another other employee/worker.

But you probably knew all that and just want to rant.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Since we’re now at the “making things up to justify our ####ty behaviour” stage of things, here’s the actual timeline, for the business boys who know a thing or two about what you can post on social media:

May 2022 - OK posts a thank you to fans for all the support
July 2022 - OK posts pictures of himself with some friends
August 2022 - OK signs a contract extension
September 2022 - It’s announced he won’t be at training camp due to a personal issue, the team requests privacy for the player
September 2022 - May 2023 - OK doesn’t play a single game, doesn’t post anything, and there are no substantive updates from anyone
April 2023 - OK posts a video of himself training, and Johnny Oduya posts a video of OK doing skating drills in a Flames practice jersey
July 2023 - OK posts pictures for the first time in a year, including the yacht pictures and a picture of him training in a Flames practice jersey
August 2023 - OK posts more pictures of him enjoying himself
September 2023 - OK comes to Calgary and poses for promotional photos with the Flames
September 2023 - It’s announced that Kylington was not cleared by the Flames’ medical staff and will not participate in training camp
January 2024 - Kylington returns to the Flames’ lineup

So, if you want to judge him for pictures, go nuts. But if you want to bull#### about him being on a yacht while on a paid leave? That just makes you look silly. The idea that players can hang out on a yacht in February during All-Star weekend but OK can’t in July (while having been actively training for months and expecting to return right up until September) is petty and weird.

That’s why nobody is taking the “Oh you can be supportive but still judge him!” thing seriously, as it’s not coming from serious people.

Bravo for taking the time and effort to put this timeline together!

[Goriders]

You forgot June 2024 OK doesn’t accept contract offer. Not a Flame anymore.

[Ferarri]

Originally Posted by Goriders

You forgot June 2024 OK doesn’t accept contract offer. Not a Flame anymore.

This could change almost instantly. The Flames and Kylington could still reach a deal even after he went to market.

Honestly, at this point though, if there is any bad blood or hurt feelings from either side, then it's time to move on. Flames wish Oliver the best and he continues to seek a contract from another club or goes in a completely different direction. Conroy went with plan B during free agency and alluded to the door closing. At this point for everyone involved, it might be best to shut the door.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Yes, you're supposed to sit in a dark room all day staring at the wall when you're on a medical leave.

Well not just that.
You can also sit crouching in the corner of a shower while the water pours over you.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Goriders

You forgot June 2024 OK doesn’t accept contract offer. Not a Flame anymore.

You forgot, June 2024 he makes a counter offer with more money and term. Kinda disapproves any "he just wants to move on" talk
He is free to do whatever he likes...I am free to discuss whether or not I think him and his camp made a good hockey decision on a hockey forum.

I hope he is back on a 1 year deal at around 2M
any more and I don't think its a good risk or a fair contract for my hometown team

I just read a worst contracts of 2024 free agency list and half of them are former Flames that wanted even more here lol. Flames as an organization need to stop being pushed around, Conroy seems to have gotten the message.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

All you have to do is read this thread if you wonder why more people don't open up about mental health issues.

It's being used as ammunition against Kylington here (from a few posters). Why are we even assuming anything. He could want a fresh start. Or, he may be negotiating with another team, which he has every right to do.

HE ASKED FOR A CONTRACT WITH MORE TERM FROM THE FLAMES AND THEY DENIED
Flames could have had this done IF they felt it was fair value.

Its not that complicated, we do in fact know more that some people want to admit

[Stanley]

I’m not even sure I want OK back regardless. Not necessarily cause I feel he’s “burned bridges” or anything but just cause I honestly feel like NHL isn’t what’s best for his day-to-day life long-term and his issues (whatever they are) may come up again.

All the best to him but his roster spot is better spent on a young player trying to make a name for himself

[musth]

I hope he gets his stuff in order and I hope he gets what he wants. Sounds like he's betting a little in himself and I'm cheering him all the way. Hopefully he continues on the Flames, but if not, I'll wish him well otherwise.


Hopefully none of you have to go through mental health issues, because it sure sounds like some of you have no idea what it's like, or what support is.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Well not just that.
You can also sit crouching in the corner of a shower while the water pours over you.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

All I've heard on the subject is rumor and hearsay...but based on what I heard it wasn't something that he would have known at the time he signed the deal in 2022 or even that summer that would potentially impact him, but if what I heard was true then an event occured that really was quite harsh that triggered the issues closer to the start of training camp.

There were a couple of rumours posted on Reddit then later deleted, but I am not sure there was even a recent event. Kylington himself said in an interview that he was hiding from it for a long time, so I don't think that it was something that just happened in between the time he signed and when camp was to begin. Not that it matters when his mental health went into decline. As is often with mental health struggles, they are something present for a long time before people even recognize it or admit to it.

His career even going back to his pre-draft years had some hiccups that you usually don't see as well. At one time, he was considered a potential top 5 pick, but almost fell to the 3rd round in his draft year. He seemed to fall out of favour with his team in Sweden and the Flames signed him quickly to bring him under their wing. Players with his draft pedigree don't often get signed and brought to North America that quickly. With the benefit of hindsight, I can't help but wonder if there were issues way back then that were kept on the down low, but caused him to fall down in the draft and caused problems with his team there.

[Zary's-Mustache]

Originally Posted by Mitts

Or maybe he just sat at home playing xbox while the Flames paid him for doing nothing because he didn't feel like playing for Sutter. The real world deals with mental health issues on their own time, and don't get paid millions to do nothing, as a matter of fact they don't get paid at all if they don't work. Good riddance. Now he wants more money for doing nothing, ultimate betrayal of a team who backed him and kept their silence while paying him. They could have suspended him when he didn't show up for camp instead they supported him the whole way.

For the UPTEENTH TIME.

THE FLAMES AGREED FOR HIM TO NOT SHOW UP FOR CAMP SO THEY COULDN'T HAVE SUSPENDED HIM.

Jesus H christ. How many times does this have to be said.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Zary's-Mustache

For the UPTEENTH TIME.

THE FLAMES AGREED FOR HIM TO NOT SHOW UP FOR CAMP SO THEY COULDN'T HAVE SUSPENDED HIM.

Jesus H christ. How many times does this have to be said.

The Flames HAD A CHOICE whether or not they would agree to that in the first place. You admit as much by saying that they agreed. You just don't get how that makes nonsense of your whole position.

The team treated Kylington well right from the beginning of the whole issue. Some organizations would have treated him badly right from the beginning. Some organizations would not have respected his privacy, nor leaned on the media to keep them from poking around for juicy details. Some organizations, having paid a player several million dollars to do almost nothing, would not even have considered offering him another contract.

The Flames did not have to do any of those things, yet they did.