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

[polak]

Originally Posted by the2bears

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

Yeah, why not? If he's so elite at everything else besides defense?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by polak

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

I assumed you'd have enough hockey knowledge to get my point without me having to spell it out. All of the defensemen I listed are god awful at d. Yet Karlsson and Subban are still considered game-breaking players.

Offensive Defenseman is a role. We are spoiled with offensive defensemen that are still good defensively, but that isn't the norm. Usually you have to give up most defensive responsibilities to be an offensive style defenseman.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by polak

Yeah, why not? If he's so elite at everything else besides defense?

This isn't like a C going to RW ...the flow is different, positioning is different, perspective is different, skating is different, shooting and passing angles are different, responsibilities are different. It's night and day. Like the one poster who always suggests that Wideman become a RW....it makes no sense. No sense at all

[FlamesAddiction]

It's rare but not unheard of to convert defensemen into forwards (former Flames players Housley, Allison, Montador and Belak were all played at both positions at times from what I recall). At 18, it probably wouldn't be an impossible task. I am having trouble of thinking of ones that permanently changed, but I am sure that it must have happened before.

Having said that, the problem with Kylington doesn't sound like he is bad at defense from a philosophical stand point as much as it is that he lacks overall judgment which leads to him trying to do too much, not using his teammates and making bad decisions. That is a problem that would probably follow him to whichever position he played.

He simply needs how to learn to play the team game.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's rare but not unheard of to convert defensemen into forwards (former Flames players Housley, Allison, Montador and Belak were all played at both positions at times from what I recall). At 18, it probably wouldn't be an impossible task. I am having trouble of thinking of ones that permanently changed, but I am sure that it must have happened before.

Having said that, the problem with Kylington doesn't sound like he is bad at defense from a philosophical stand point as much as it is that he lacks overall judgment which leads to him trying to do too much, not using his teammates and making bad decisions. That is a problem that would probably follow him to whichever position he played.

He simply needs how to learn to play the team game.

Big Buff and Brent Burns can play both defence and at forward but that is very unusual. I suspect OK's offensive skills were so precocious he got promoted too high too early and thereby missed the opportunity to develop his defensive game. That needs to be his focus now, whether in Stockton or Brandon.

[Redlan]

Elevation of play at the AHL level and the size of rink have me leaning towards a year getting acclimatized to North America in the WHL. Also I think playing in with/against his own peer group will also help his transition.

[Enoch Root]

If they send him to the A and it isn't working out, they can still send him to Brandon.

If they send him to the W and it isn't working out, he is there until their season ends.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If they send him to the A and it isn't working out, they can still send him to Brandon.

If they send him to the W and it isn't working out, he is there until their season ends.

If it isn't working out in Brandon then that would be the biggest red flag of them all.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

If it isn't working out in Brandon then that would be the biggest red flag of them all.

What I meant was, if he isn't challenged or isn't getting the coaching he needs, or whatever.

Not that he was failing there

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's rare but not unheard of to convert defensemen into forwards (former Flames players Housley, Allison, Montador and Belak were all played at both positions at times from what I recall). At 18, it probably wouldn't be an impossible task. I am having trouble of thinking of ones that permanently changed, but I am sure that it must have happened before.

Having said that, the problem with Kylington doesn't sound like he is bad at defense from a philosophical stand point as much as it is that he lacks overall judgment which leads to him trying to do too much, not using his teammates and making bad decisions. That is a problem that would probably follow him to whichever position he played.

He simply needs how to learn to play the team game.

I read on the HF prospect thread that as a child he once played C but ended up moving to D. A few posters (grain of salt needed) said that his tools are pretty set as D. Moving back not suggested.

I semi agree... then remember we have Eggs on the team who is a D/RW. Who could potentially help him to be both if necessary, but I wouldn't think this is a good idea.

I agree to keep him on D, based on what I've noted so far in threads etc. His D is supposedly "ok" but he takes on way too risky plays which leave the opposition open to counter attack. Essentially he's a double edged sword, or as one poster sorta put it, (paraphrased) "he's dangerous against both teams". A few posters felt if he was less aggressive, he could improve immensely.

I don't think most of his question marks are his tools. It's sorting out which tool to use at which time.

Again, I have barely watched him play on youtube. I'm just going off of a random assortment of clips and input from guys on the forums.

[Yamer]

The reason you keep him at D is two-fold, IMO:

1) The defensive aspects of the game can be taught and acquired. Kylington already has incredible skating talent and a familiarity with the position. A very late 2nd round pick defenseman with holes in his defensive game are not all that uncommon nor tragic.

2) If you can teach a player, who is already gifted with immense offensive talent, to be competent defensively, you have the ultimate game-changer on the back end. I think Kylington will always tend toward the offensive side of the game, but if he can acquire the skills and mindset to be responsible at both ends of the rink...one word: watch out.

[Redlan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If they send him to the A and it isn't working out, they can still send him to Brandon.

If they send him to the W and it isn't working out, he is there until their season ends.

An this one was of the issues that was brought up last year with regards to his last season development. The coaching staff need to evaluate him and put him where he's best suited and leave him there unless there is some extenuating circumstances that require a change. A new country, new teammates, new rules, new competition, new ice surface, etc is enough for an 18 year old, why hinder him further by changing all those again (AHL Stockton vs WHL Brandon) just because it can be done.

[Enoch Root]

you don't move him 'just because' but it's nice to have options

[colbym72]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

If it isn't working out in Brandon then that would be the biggest red flag of them all.

Also the problem some people have said about his development has been he played for so many teams last year. Sending him around the country again might be a mistake

Edit: I see Redlan said the thing as me but better

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by colbym72

Also the problem some people have said about his development has been he played for so many teams last year. Sending him around the country again might be a mistake

Edit: I see Redlan said the thing as me but better

Yeah.. 4 teams in 4 years or something like that. Can't be good for development.

From 2013 to 2015 went from top 5 discussion to top 10/15/24/first rounder to disbelief he was in the second round. All HF posters... but... still.

But also, we can argue all we want. Doesn't change the fact that the decisions is Treliving's and not ours. I really doubt he reads forums and makes a decision based on that.


Random...
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=142238

Says he's in Stockton next season.

[Itse]

Also, offensive defenseman play a rather different game than forwards. Being good at one doesn't in one role doesn't in any way mean you'll be good at the other.

[FBI]

We get the point man, you like HF..

> 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.
> I read on the HF prospect thread that as a child he once played C but ended up moving to D. A few posters (grain of salt needed) said that his tools are pretty set as D. Moving back not suggested.
> From 2013 to 2015 went from top 5 discussion to top 10/15/24/first rounder to disbelief he was in the second round. All HF posters... but... still.

[The Swedish Flame]

Originally Posted by 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?

I fully agree with the above. Put the guy in Brandon and let him have a year with a ton of minutes, a leadership role (probably) and get used to the smaller rink. There's plenty of time to get him to the AHL/NHL later.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by FBI

We get the point man, you like HF..

> 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.
> I read on the HF prospect thread that as a child he once played C but ended up moving to D. A few posters (grain of salt needed) said that his tools are pretty set as D. Moving back not suggested.
> From 2013 to 2015 went from top 5 discussion to top 10/15/24/first rounder to disbelief he was in the second round. All HF posters... but... still.

i also prefer when posters refer to it as 'the other board'

do like the info about him playing some centre early in his life though...

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

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



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

The video in this article at the bottom is amazing. Subban is awesome.