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

[dobbles]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The only issue I have with the ECHL is it still tends to be somewhat of a goonish league.

I would just like to chime in that to say I think that is totally untrue.

Having been to several hundred ECHL, CHL (central hockey league), and IHL2 games, I think I have a pretty good idea of AA level hockey these last few years. And from what I have seen its nowhere near goon hockey. And considering the amount of AHL hockey I have seen in person over the last decade (including 2 years as a STH for the QC Flames) I honestly think the 2 leagues play pretty much the same. The AHL just has much more skill.

When you consider the effort the ECHL has put into becoming the official AA league, including acquiring their main rival league, the CHL (which had previously absorbed the short lived IHL2) they have every reason to promote quality hockey. They are not in markets or situations that dictate they ice rosters of goons to get fans in the seats.



On-topic: As an American that is biased towards the minor leagues I am familiar with, I say try the AHL/ECHL. I think too many players dominate the CHL leagues and it does little for their development. But I know nothing of Kylington, and just read these threads because I like all hockey.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by dobbles

I would just like to chime in that to say I think that is totally untrue.

Having been to several hundred ECHL, CHL (central hockey league), and IHL2 games, I think I have a pretty good idea of AA level hockey these last few years. And from what I have seen its nowhere near goon hockey. And considering the amount of AHL hockey I have seen in person over the last decade (including 2 years as a STH for the QC Flames) I honestly think the 2 leagues play pretty much the same. The AHL just has much more skill.

When you consider the effort the ECHL has put into becoming the official AA league, including acquiring their main rival league, the CHL (which had previously absorbed the short lived IHL2) they have every reason to promote quality hockey. They are not in markets or situations that dictate they ice rosters of goons to get fans in the seats.

Maybe it's not as bad as it was a few years ago, but it is still the dirtier of the 3 main pro-leagues in North America. It's not that far off the AHL though I guess.

http://www.hockeyfights.com/leaders/players/3/reg2015
http://www.hockeyfights.com/leaders/players/2/reg2015
http://www.hockeyfights.com/leaders/players/

http://echl.com/stats/statdisplay.ph...id=-1&confId=0
http://theahl.com/stats/statdisplay....id=-1&confId=0
http://espn.go.com/nhl/statistics/pl...penaltyMinutes


For a veteran player it might not be a big deal, but for an 18 year old from Sweden, I wouldn't want to scare him off.

[Street Pharmacist]

Treliving specifically said about him that to develop it's always best to be around peers of the same age. I'd put a fair amount of money in him going to Brandon

[polak]

Wait, if he's as poor defensively as advertised, but stellar at the other facets of the game, why are we playing him as a D?

[Calgary4LIfe]

I would like to see him go to Brandon simply due to the log-jam in the AHL.

Kylington needs stable playing time more than anything right now under a good staff. I feel he gets that in Brandon. Likewise, I would have no qualms about him going to the ECHL either, as he would (I am guessing) get similar treatment there.

If the Flames were not so full of defencemen suddenly, the AHL would make the most sense based on the kind of league and experience he is coming out of. However, with Wotherspoon, Morrison, Culkin, Kulak, Nakladal, Sieloff and Kanzig already there, I just don't see Kylington getting the playing time he needs - or at least, not at the expense of another prospect. Flames let Ramage walk basically because of the depth they already have and trying to find spots for everyone.

I say this knowing that one of Wotherspoon, Morrison or Nakladal have a good shot at making the jump - and injuries occurring and players getting the call. I just want him (and the rest of the prospects) to have the playing time he needs to develop properly.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That's a pretty harsh response, no?

Kylington has been playing with men for 2 years. He simply pointed that out. No need to attack him for it.

That isn't an attack on him at all, unless by "him" you mean MacTavish, as that is one of his insane quotes.

We simply disagree on the WHL/AHL choice and the rationale behind that choice. For me, the fact that he played in a mens league doesn't really mean the choice is obviously the AHL. Going back to the quote, Draisaitl played with men in the NHL for half a year, but that doesn't mean that was the best place for him to develop.

[DoubleF]

At first I was leaning towards AHL too. Then I read the whole Kylington prospect thread at HF. A single post stood out to me.

Apparently, since Kylington was always the little kid on his Swedish teams (teams preferring to play vets), there were doubts about his physical play. Sending him to Brandon for a year to develop his D, confidence, familiarity with NA ice and physical play while playing high minutes (assuming no Provorov?) could help him grow more than if stuffed on Stockton behind a bunch of big bodies. That and also being of peers his own age would be nice.

Honestly, I haven't even watched his play online. But... I trust in Treliving. If he says Brandon, no reason why I should doubt him.

[Ring of Fire]

I like the idea of sending him to Brandon. Lots of ice-time, good coaching, and his ELC can slide. Then bring him to th AHL for 2016-17. No need to rush a Defencemen.

[Vulcan]

The more I think about it, I think having a stable season is the right way to go for this 18 year old. Brandon looks like the most stable place to be unless he really shines and shows he's absolutely ready to turn pro with no setbacks. Junior was good enough for Bennett so it should be good enough for Kylington and going by how Treliving handled that situation, he'll probably repeat with the conservative approach.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

There are very compelling arguments both ways.

What sways it for me in the end is that even though they control his development in Stockton does not mean that the coach will always think he's one of the best 6 defensemen when they are trying to get wins. If he's playing 6th/7th minutes in Stockton which isn't an unlikely scenario then obviously his development would be better served playing more minutes in junior. 20 year old Brett Kulak couldn't make the AHL full time at the start of last year after having played several season of junior. I know Kylington is a higher calibre prospect but he's also two years younger.

So while control over development is assured, ice time is far from assured. The coach cannot play a guy over better options. So unless he absolutely dominates at camp and Huska think he's a top 4-5 d-man in Stockton for sure I think you send him to the WHL to dominate, learn the NA ice, learn the NA game, learn the NA culture, beef up, play more physical, round out his defense while being guaranteed huge minutes. He just isn't guaranteed to get enough minutes in the AHL as an 18 year old d-man IMO.

[greentree]

One season in Brandon, then Stockton. Eventually the NHL. Seems like most logical progression.
He has a lot of work ahead of him. I hope he gets that.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Ring of Fire

I like the idea of sending him to Brandon. Lots of ice-time, good coaching, and his ELC can slide. Then bring him to th AHL for 2016-17. No need to rush a Defencemen.

His ELC would slide either way

Only by playing 10 NHL games would he burn a year

[Hackey]

Very exciting news. I'm sure the Flames will make the decision that is best for his development.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by polak

Wait, if he's as poor defensively as advertised, but stellar at the other facets of the game, why are we playing him as a D?

Why is Karlsson played at D?
Why is Subban played at D?
Why is Shultz played at D?
Why is Murray played at D?

Because they can drive offense from the backend.

[bax]

Is it just me or does Oliver seem like a perfect comparable to Subban? Didn't he fall in the draft for similar reasons

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by bax

Is it just me or does Oliver seem like a perfect comparable to Subban? Didn't he fall in the draft for similar reasons

Maybe one day there will be an article like this about Kylington and we'll be asking who are some of these guys?

2007 NHL Draft: The 16 Defensemen Selected Before PK Subban

http://thehockeywriters.com/2007-nhl...ore-pk-subban/

[Bourque's Twin]

I voted for the WHL, because Kylington needs confidence more than anything right now.
He was the 4th ranked prospect and got drafted 60th only 9 months later.

He will be among the top skilled guys in the entire CHL, and hopefully this allows him to try new things and learn the defensive side of the game without sacrificing as much offesnively. I also think being around guys his age will be an easier adjustment to North America.

The Flames have an incredible D in the NHL, and their AHL depth is pretty great too. The organization has time to put Kylington in the WHL for a year. No harm done.

[JohnnyTitan]

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]

[polak]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Why is Karlsson played at D?
Why is Subban played at D?
Why is Shultz played at D?
Why is Murray played at D?

Because they can drive offense from the backend.

Yeah but if Kylington is so god awful at d...

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by polak

Yeah but if Kylington is so god awful at d...

But what's your point? Do you really think they should try to make a forward out of him?