[News] AIK announces they will let Kylington pursue opportunities in North America

[CroFlames]

I think if he's eligible for the AHL, that is where he should go. That way the Flames can directly influence and gauge his development.

It's possible for him to play sheltered minutes in the AHL, but it also gives him the opportunity to excel. Given his high ceiling, I wouldn't put him in the WHL.

[Yamer]

They have a pretty strong system in Brandon, and he can work on all facets of his game while most likely playing big minutes. It would be a great place to rebuild his confidence, and he can get a taste of high-level competition as the Wheat Kings should be a strong contender.

[saillias]

How full is Stockton's D actually going to be? We've let Ramage, Cundari, Potter and Acolatse go. They're only adding Kanzig, Morrison and potentially Kylington to that group. Assuming Smid is LTIR'd, and another NHL D is always injured on average, that's one of Wotherspoon/Nakladal/Morrison playing in the top 6. (Say Kenny Morrison) One of them as the 7 (say Nakladal). And a group in Stockton of

Wotherspoon
Culkin
Kulak
Seiloff
Kanzig

I definitely see room for Kylington in the AHL. Unless we've got guys on AHL contracts I'm forgetting.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by saillias

How full is Stockton's D actually going to be? We've let Ramage, Cundari, Potter and Acolatse go. They're only adding Kanzig, Morrison and potentially Kylington to that group. Assuming Smid is LTIR'd, and another NHL D is always injured on average, that's one of Wotherspoon/Nakladal/Morrison playing in the top 6. (Say Kenny Morrison) One of them as the 7 (say Nakladal). And a group in Stockton of

Wotherspoon
Culkin
Kulak
Seiloff
Kanzig

I definitely see room for Kylington in the AHL. Unless we've got guys on AHL contracts I'm forgetting.

Stevenson is the only Dman currently on an AHL contract.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by saillias

How full is Stockton's D actually going to be? We've let Ramage, Cundari, Potter and Acolatse go. They're only adding Kanzig, Morrison and potentially Kylington to that group. Assuming Smid is LTIR'd, and another NHL D is always injured on average, that's one of Wotherspoon/Nakladal/Morrison playing in the top 6. (Say Kenny Morrison) One of them as the 7 (say Nakladal). And a group in Stockton of

Wotherspoon
Culkin
Kulak
Seiloff
Kanzig

I definitely see room for Kylington in the AHL. Unless we've got guys on AHL contracts I'm forgetting.

Dustin Stevenson is on an AHL contract and seems to be a favourite of Huska.

[puckedoff]

Only concern with him playing in the dub is that it is more run-and-gun, and he may be able to succeed while continuing to make poor decisions with the puck. AHL may prove to be more structured and force him to make the safe and correct play sometimes.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Over the last year Kylington seems to be a coach killer. You don't play on so many teams in a year because you are helping the coach being too successful.

The Flames need to get him under their own coaches.

As well if PROVOROV does not make the jump to pro as a 19 year old... he will likely be back in Brandon.

Bukarts who had 33 goals 74 pts in 62 games and 18 pts in 16 games in the playoffs....has indicated he plans to be back in Brandon as a 20 year old.

Only 2 imports allowed

Who makes Brandon a better team? I would think that the Wheat Kings are more interested in winning this year rather than player development.

McCrimmon wouldnt have drafted him and then shown up at Flames Dev camp to meet with Kylington and the Flames if he didnt intend to put him on the team if available, so I'm guessing the Burkarts thing doesnt really matter. If the Flames are willing to send Kylington to Brandon, he will play there.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Bukarts who had 33 goals 74 pts in 62 games and 18 pts in 16 games in the playoffs....has indicated he plans to be back in Brandon as a 20 year old.

Only 2 imports allowed

Which is why Bukarts won't be amoung them. Maximum of 2 imports allowed and maximum of 3 twenty year olds allowed... Do you really think Brandon is going to want to burn both an import slot and a overage slot on the same guy? I don't.

[mdubz]

Stockton please. We've all seen the defensemen that Ryan Huska has produced in the WHL. Working with Oliver at his age will be amazing for his development.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Which is why Bukarts won't be amoung them. Maximum of 2 imports allowed and maximum of 3 twenty year olds allowed... Do you really think Brandon is going to want to burn both an import slot and a overage slot on the same guy? I don't.

Agreed.

Also if it were ultimately between Bukarts and Kylington, and they could only have one, it comes down to politics and Brandon would much rather placate the Calgary Flames than Bukarts.

[Bunk]

I think a year in WHL and a full year in the AHL would be a good plan.

To get him over to NA is great news.

Kylington, Hickey and Andersson are very intriguing D prospects for us.

[foshizzle11]

Stockton. Simply because the flames will have more control on his development. He will play as much as he needs to and will learn the system faster playing with Huska. I would imagine he will get better training playing less games and working with top notch trainers.

I don't understand the "he should play within his age group" argument. I just don't see why this would be a positive if he has already been playing with men. Why send him backwards?

If there is space for him, then in Stockton. If he is seriously going to be the 7th dman in Stockton, then send him to the WHL. I think those decisions will be made after the main camp and we all see how he can compete at the top level.

The more the flames have their hands on him the better IMO.

[automaton 3]

If he has a decent camp, I don't see him being sent to the WHL.

[Vulcan]

I voted Brandon but on the other hand Eric Roy spent 5 years there and never got his defensive game together. Maybe let him try out with Stockton first, Adirondack second and if he doesn't fit there than send him to Brandon.

Another consideration is that Loob said he needed some stability, so sending him to Brandon right off will get him settled for the season.

[mikephoen]

I voted Stockton. Then read posts that swayed my thinking to Brandon being better for his developement. But then Vulcan brought up Eric Roy, and now I'm back to undecided.

Hopefully it's just choosing between two equally good options.

If he goes to Stockton first, he can then be sent to Brandon if needed, but not the other way around. So maybe I'm back to thinking Stockton?

[Yanda]

"He gets closer to the maximum amount for a rookie and the usual AHL salary, which is 70 000 US dollars (about 595,000 dollars) if there would be games there."

This makes me think he would only come to NA for the AHL and skip the CHL.

[Enoch Root]

First of all, let's see how he looks in camp before deciding.

But as far as the poll goes, I think the important thing to consider is: what are the issues that he needs to work on?

If it were general development like skating and offense, I would be all for getting more ice-time in Brandon.

But his skating and offense are already elite and probably NHL level. It's his defensive positioning that is the issue here. What he needs is coaching.

And for that reason, I would rather see him in Stockton. Getting him working full-time with the coaching staff, learning how to play the game properly.

Stockton is a developmental team - they will get him the ice-time he needs. If he continues to show that he is an important prospect, they will give him the appropriate ice-time to continue to develop.

In Stockton, he'll get better coaching, more focus on what he needs, and managed, sheltered ice-time (until he's ready for more).

[automaton 3]

^Thanks for that, I was typing something similar but you beat me to it.

Will also add that playing in the WHL basically unpaid probably holds very little appeal to him.

Brandon did not appear to help Eric Roy's development, and Ryan Pilon was at one point also highly regarded, but ended up slipping into the 5th round in the recent draft.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

^Thanks for that, I was typing something similar but you beat me to it.

Will also add that playing in the WHL basically unpaid probably holds very little appeal to him.

Brandon did not appear to help Eric Roy's development, and Ryan Pilon was at one point also highly regarded, but ended up slipping into the 5th round in the recent draft.

If Kelowna was an option, I'd feel a lot better about sending him to the WHL.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Yanda

"He gets closer to the maximum amount for a rookie and the usual AHL salary, which is 70 000 US dollars (about 595,000 dollars) if there would be games there."

This makes me think he would only come to NA for the AHL and skip the CHL.

He'll get his $92,500 signing bonus no matter what.

The difference between Stockton and Brandon is the $70,000 he'd make in the AHL as opposed to whatever the players get as their stipend in the WHL. In Stockton, he'd also have to pay rent, buy his own food, and cook his own meals (which he might already be used to doing, I'm not sure how those things work in Sweden). In Brandon, he'd live with a Billet family and have his room and board provided by the team.


At the end of the day, if he wants to have an NHL future, he'll do whatever the Flames want him to do. If that's Brandon, he'll go to Brandon. If it's Stockton, he'll go to Stockton. A few thousand dollars difference today isn't worth potentially screwing up his relationship with the Flames and the millions he could make in the future.