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

[getbak]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I'm all for him playing in Brandon for a year... and if he proves it's too easy, he can always move up to the AHL.

No, he can't. If he gets sent to Brandon, he's there until their season is over.

[polak]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I'm feeling like Kylington is going to Stockton. If he does get sent to Brandon that'll be one of the most Dynamic pairings in all of the CHL. Although it may be beneficial to pair them off separately so they both have a defensive I need guy for each of them

He should definitely be going to the AHL in my mind. Why have him play against boys when he could be playing against men with far better coaching and hands on development from the Flames?

He's shown that he isn't too too far out and the North American game doesn't seem to be much of a leap to him.

AHL! AHL!

P.S. He's probably the prospect that I'm most excited about on the Flames. When a top 10 talent falls to us and comes in and has a great camp like he's apparently having, how can you not be excited?

[Caged Great]

AHL would probably best to start. See how he fares against men and with the coaching staff in Stockton. If he's having a hard go of it, or not enough ice time, then send him to Brandon around Christmas time give or take.

The main thing is that he has time to work on his defensive game. Offensively, he is already good enough to play in the NHL imo, he just needs to get better at reading when to pinch, when to hold back, and where he needs to be generally.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I think he'll be a stud if he's developed right. I can see him being a TJ Brodie with much more offensive flare as his ceiling. He needs time to round out his game especially his decision making and defensive awareness. I'm all for him playing in Brandon for a year... and if he proves it's too easy, he can always move up to the AHL.

That's the thing...

If they send him to the A and it doesn't work out or there are too many bodies (unlikely, as injuries happen), they can still send him to Brandon.

But if they send him to Brandon and it isn't working out, too bad - he's there for the year.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I was originally leaning towards a year with Brandon, but the more I think about it, the more I want to see him in the AHL this year.

With so many question marks around his attitude and development curve, the Flames need their guys to oversee his development. Leave it up to our coaching staff to show him the way. Our AHL management has proven themselves competent year after year and are better suited to teaching Kylington how to be a pro in North America.

Skating alongside Provorov would be cool to see, but there will be plenty of young talent surrounding Kylington in Stockton. The same players who he might be playing in the NHL with a few years from now. Might as well get familiar with teammates and the Flames system. It's a system that's built for his type of game, so why not let him excel in it?

[polak]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

And I don't think the WHL is that far below a second tier Swedish league

Maybe it can be argued that the WHL is better in skill level (I doubt it though, how many WHL players end up playing their prime years of hockey in Europe? More then make the NHL I assume?) but the one major difference is that the second tier Swedish league is Men where as the WHL is children.

Do you think he's going to be challenged and develop well going from defending against men to defending against 16 year old kids? If anything it's a step back for learning how to defend in the pros.

AHL.

[Coach]

I agree that if they want him to focus on learning a more responsible game, the AHL is where he should be. If that means he's getting 15 minutes a night (that's not exactly bad icetime), so be it.

He'll be a 4th fwd in Junior.

[GranteedEV]

I'm really torn. From what I've seen, the best place for Kylington is Stockton in a top 4 role.

But Stockton could have 5 legitimate players ahead of him:

Nakladal
Wotherspoon
Kulak
Morrison
Culkin

Which means even top 4 ice time is not a guarantee on a given night.

Best case scenario for prospect development is this:
We miraculously drop Smid and Engelland and don't sign Wilson, (even though he's worth signing) because Spoon makes the roster:

NHL Roster

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Wotherspoon-Wideman
Nakladal

AHL Roster

Kulak-Kylington
Culkin-Morrison
Stevenson-Sieloff / Kanzig-Johnson

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'm really torn. From what I've seen, the best place for Kylington is Stockton in a top 4 role.

But Stockton could have 5 legitimate players ahead of him:

Nakladal
Wotherspoon
Kulak
Morrison
Culkin

Which means even top 4 ice time is not a guarantee on a given night.

Also, the Heat have signed Aaron Johnson, who is likely going to be the #1 D-man down there. He will definitely be top 4.

[FlamesAddiction]

I worry about how the coaches and players in the AHL will deal with a player that makes many mistakes that should have been corrected in junior. You don't want coaches to get frustrated and teammates despising him. He wasn't exactly winning them over in the Swedish 2nd division. Advancing him to the AHL seems like it could be shocking for him.

I really think the Flames need to be patient with him and ease him in.

[polak]

Well I'm sure the Flames brass would be well aware of his deficiencies if they send him to the A.

[FBI]

After watching him play, I definitely vote AHL. Don't know how much he is going to improve defensively in Brandon, there won't be any need to.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'm really torn. From what I've seen, the best place for Kylington is Stockton in a top 4 role.

But Stockton could have 5 legitimate players ahead of him:

Nakladal
Wotherspoon
Kulak
Morrison
Culkin

Which means even top 4 ice time is not a guarantee on a given night.

Best case scenario for prospect development is this:
We miraculously drop Smid and Engelland and don't sign Wilson, (even though he's worth signing) because Spoon makes the roster:

NHL Roster

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Wotherspoon-Wideman
Nakladal

AHL Roster

Kulak-Kylington
Culkin-Morrison
Stevenson-Sieloff / Kanzig-Johnson

With Brodie and Smid hurt, it is possible that 2 of these guys start in Calgary.

And Culkin is also hurt. So quite possibly, only 2 of those 5 are in Stockton to start the season.

I think people are overstating how many bodies there are for Stockton. You need at least 16 defensemen to staff two teams.

Every injury in Stockton AND every injury in Calgary, depletes the Stockton roster.

As for Johnson, he'll be a key leader, but he won't be their #1 d-man. Stockton exists to develop players for the Flames

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I am curious why you think the Flames - who's interest it is to develop him - would give him an amount of ice-time that would be detrimental to his development.

I would also be curious to hear from fans who think Brandon would do a good job developing him when their goal is to win.

Kyllington's offense is already at the point where he would be dominant in the CHL. I don't want him 'learning' that he can go end to end at will in Brandon.

I want him learning from pros, and pro coaches, who understand that it is his defensive game, and his approach to the game, that need work.

And I am curious why you think the Flames would put his development ahead of other prospects at the AHL level whom it is also in their best interest to develop?

[tvp2003]

I have no issues with him starting as a 5/6 in Stockton. It shouldn't take long for them to figure out where he's at on the smaller ice; if he performs well, he'll move up to the top 4. If he doesn't, they can reconsider the Brandon option.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

And I am curious why you think the Flames would put his development ahead of other prospects at the AHL level whom it is also in their best interest to develop?

More upside?

Just like how Gaudreau beat our Baertschi.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by polak

More upside?

Just like how Gaudreau beat our Baertschi.

If teams thought that way then Brodie might not have been developed properly. We have several guys that need to be prepared to play in the NHL this year if needed. Putting an 18 year old with "more upside" ahead of them would lack a great deal of foresight.

And Gaudreau was developed properly in the NCAA, he also has a better attitude and work ethic.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by polak

More upside?

Because you think so?

If Kylington's true upside is Jeff Schultz and Kulak's upside is Duncan Keith, who's the better investment?

You have to treat prospects equally and see who develops. Otherwise you're left pinning your hopes on Erixon, Baertschi, Wahl, and Irving instead of Brodie, Gaudreau, Granlund, Ferland, Arnold, and Ortio.

[Southside]

Originally Posted by polak

Maybe it can be argued that the WHL is better in skill level (I doubt it though, how many WHL players end up playing their prime years of hockey in Europe? More then make the NHL I assume?) but the one major difference is that the second tier Swedish league is Men where as the WHL is children.

Do you think he's going to be challenged and develop well going from defending against men to defending against 16 year old kids? If anything it's a step back for learning how to defend in the pros.

AHL.

Children? 16 year-olds?

You'll not find either playing WHL. They are mainly 18-20 year old men.

Let's not exaggerate too much to make a point.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

And I am curious why you think the Flames would put his development ahead of other prospects at the AHL level whom it is also in their best interest to develop?

Who said ahead? Just not behind. Pretty easy concept.