[News] With the 60th OA pick the Flames select D Oliver Kylington UPD: CHL rights to Brandon

[StrykerSteve]

From The Hockey Writers...

If selected following the first round, Kylington could quite easily become the steal of the draft, as he once projected to be amongst the top defenders available. He certainly could reach his potential, however it will require a new found sense of purpose and determination both on and off the ice. In terms of an NHL comparison, Kylington is often noted as similar to Keith Yandle.

[IGGYFORMVP]

After watching that highlight package all I can think is.....

He skates like Brodie.

Wow.

[Miniac]

WOW! Just woke up to this great news!

[sureLoss]

Here is some insight as to why he fell:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...-may/27307985/

One of the most perplexing developments in the world of prospects this year has been the wildly erratic play of Swedish wunderkind Oliver Kylington.

Viewed by many (including Red Line) as a top five talent heading into this season, Kylington has taken a gigantic step backward and we have finally had to take the drastic step of dropping him completely out of our first round. While the super-skilled blue-liner's immense talent is not in question, we can't for the life of us figure out what the hell is going on inside his head most of the time.

Our biggest complaint is that, for all his stupendous puck skills, he seems either incapable — or worse yet, simply unwilling — to make the simple, correct play with the puck that is called for in 90% of game situations. Why make the simple, correct play when you can contort yourself into spasms looking for — and trying — the impossibly flashy play that says, "Hey, look at me - I'm sooooo skilled." And invariably winds up as a brutal turnover.

Having said all that, Kylington is undoubtedly the best pure skater in the draft, with the type of speed, agility, and balance on the rush that are currently rivaled in the NHL only by the likes of Erik Karlsson and P.K. Subban.

Given all that, we think of him as the ultimate boom-or-bust, high risk/high reward defenceman, and we admit he has us in a conundrum. Do you take the gamble very early in the draft on pure talent and assume your staff can coach him up? Or is he so undisciplined and irresponsible in his decision-making that he'll be a coach killer for at least the first six to eight years of his career?

We honestly have no idea which way his career will go. If we were sitting with a pick in the middle of the first round and Kylington was still on the board, we'd be sorely tempted. But ultimately, we think we'd settle on a player who wouldn't have as high an upside (not many do), but would be a safer bet to develop into a quality NHLer.

[GranteedEV]

Question:

How long can we stash him in Sweden + ELC before his first real contract is up?

5 year? 6?

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

"Sheelington"? That's an odd way to pronounce it haha. Been saying it wrong all year.

Ha. In Swedish when "K" is next to a soft vowel it's pronounced as "Sh".

I learned that the hard way in Sweden.

[Nabber]

I kind of thought the Flames were going the take him with their first this year, though I admit I didn't do much research, but I was on board for the risk pick with the high upside. To see we got him anyways it's like we were able to keep our first, happy with this pick!

[jg13]

So his upside could be a #1 d man?

[Moneyhands23]

Interesting to hear he will be training with Oduya this summer in Spain. That's a definite plus in my books

[Savvy27]

Interview:
-Thought he would go anywhere from 15th to somewhere in the second round
-Went for dinner with the Flames group at the combine, had a good feeling with the team
-Going 60th might be better than going 15th because now I want to show teams that they maybe should have taken me at 15
-Dougie Hamilton is a great player and maybe I could play with him
-Spending the summer working out with Johnny Oduya
-Their fathers are friends from way back and Oduya is like a big brother and a mentor
-Signed to a 1+1 contract with AIK, but there is an out-clause
-It would great to play in the NHL next season but focus is to have a great season with AIK

[btimbit]

Didn't want him at 15, but thrilled to get him at 60.

[Dime_On_Flames]

So the Flames need to sign Oduya now amirite?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Question:

How long can we stash him in Sweden + ELC before his first real contract is up?

5 year? 6?

Personally, I think we should bring him over ASAP so the Flames can have more control over his development.


Is there a CHL team that holds his rights?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by jg13

So his upside could be a #1 d man?

His upside is Erik Karlsson, basically.

[zoom]

I love this pick, but I think some of the concerns (IQ) are apparent in the 'shift by shift' video posted earlier in this thread.

I think this can be fixed, but he'll probably need to be in NA to make adjustments.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Question:

How long can we stash him in Sweden + ELC before his first real contract is up?

5 year? 6?

As a Euro, the Flames own his rights for 4 years without being signed. If they waited that long, he'd have a 2 year ELC.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Dime_On_Flames

So the Flames need to sign Oduya now amirite?

That would actually be a great signing regardless of this pick.

Of course we'd have to dump Wideman to make room, but I'd love Oduya on the team.

[btimbit]

I had a friend who's last name was sort of like his.

Would it be pronounced Chylington?

[The Swedish Flame]

Pre-draft article/interview in Swedish here.

"This is something that I have been looking forward to for a long time. I have been following the draft since I was little, but I have been trying to just play my game this season. You can't influence what happens that much"

Do you feel any pressure after all the talk about how important it is to go in the first round of the draft?
Everyone has been ranking me in different spots during the past year. It's not been rough, but sure there's been a lot of talk. I have viewed it as a new experience and have tried to put it aside in order to focus on hockey, play my game, and to have fun.

"Of course it would have been fun to go in the first round, but it's not the entire world if that doesn't happen. We'll see what goes down."

Do you have have favourite teams in the NHL that you would love to get drafted by?
"Sure, I have some teams that I have been watching growing up. I know Johnny Oduya, so Chicago is a team I follow. I also like Anahein, Kings, and Washington."

After all the interviews with NHL clubs in recent times, do you feel that there are some teams that are more interested than others?
"Yeah, I do. I was at the NHL Combine tow weeks ago and it was really interesting. You got insight into how the different teams think and what they like. Some were more open than others."

How far away from playing in the NHL are you?
"I would like to say two years. I want to play a full year in Sweden with AIK and then maybe a year in the AHL before I'm ready. That also depends on which club that drafts you and their plans."

"I need to get more experience and get stronger"

[dammage79]

Steal of the draft. He'll prove it this coming season.