Oliver Kylington Has Found Another Gear in Stockton

[cannon7]

For those not keeping track, Oliver Kylington leads the Stockton Heat with 13 points in 16 games and is second in scoring with six goals, after Rychel with seven.

Now I haven't exactly lavished Kylington with praise on CP, always saw him as a long shot with a high ceiling. But he's been something of a revelation in Stockton this season. He's gone from 0.56 points-per-game last season (his best as a pro to date) to 0.81 so far this season. Seems like only a matter of time before he's rewarded with a much deserved call-up.

Stockton as a team has struggled defensively and in goal, but Kylington is even on +/-, tied for 6th on the team. Honorable mention to the Heat's +/- leader, Adam Ollas-Mattsson, with +4.

[Bunk]

This is indeed very good news for the organization.

[Haplo]

With Andersson and Spoon gone he pretty much had to step up and lead the D this season. Would have been disappointed if he hadn't. Good that he seems to be doing that well though.

[GranteedEV]

He's awesome. He's not just an offensive defenseman, either, he's a modern two-way defenseman. One currently trending on a Duncan Keith type development path, slow but steadily upwards.

[monkeyman]

This is exciting. He's always had the potential, its awesome to see him moving in that direction. It makes you wonder though, how do the Flames fit him into the current lineup?

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

This is exciting. He's always had the potential, its awesome to see him moving in that direction. It makes you wonder though, how do the Flames fit him into the current lineup?

They dont need to. Let him simmer and in a year and a half when they lose Stone and one of Brodie or Hamonic to UFA he has his spot. Also will have some more time to prove himself. Seeing how he is Brodie-esque it would make sense to try and keep Hamonic.

[Bingo]

Kylington is waiver eligible next year again, so they can keep him in the AHL for another 20 months if they choose too. Brilliant management of the asset to slide his contract twice ... kind of sucks for the player though.

If they get a left side injury they can get a better read on what they have, but if they don't they will have to make a decision.

3+ years left on Giordano
Hanifin a signed staple
Rasmus Andersson emerging.

Tough call in building the left side for the future and now.

[Enoch Root]

I assume by Rasmus you mean Valimaki, but yeah. The left side is stacked for a long time.

[Heavy Jack]

I think it would be prudent for the Flames to try Kylington on the right side to see how he handles that and see if it gives us options when the time to make a decision does come in the near future.

[monkeyman]

I definitely think 20 months is too long if he proves ready, especially if they can trade an existing guy for a future asset and fill the gap with Kylington. Later this year or early next might prove the best timing as we still have Stone to step in during times where he might struggle, which is expected from guys moving up a level.

[awildermode]

Would you say the Kylington is...Kylling it?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

I think it would be prudent for the Flames to try Kylington on the right side to see how he handles that and see if it gives us options when the time to make a decision does come in the near future.

He was already playing right side in Sweden. Don't think it will take him long to adjust.

[Classic_Sniper]

Kylington’s skating and footwork look NHL ready to me. I think once Brodie’s time with the Flames is done, a roster spot should be opened and he should be ready to jump in to the league. Probably as a 6th defenseman to start.

[Samuelsson]

This is really good considering his 'attitude' was talked about being potentially as much of a problems as Ho-Sang's. Hope he can translate it to the big league, and if so it makes our D a lot stronger and gives us some expendable assets.

Side note: for some reason when we drafted Ollas Mattsson I took an instant liking to him, despite being drafted in the seventh round or whatever it was and having never seen him play or anything. Always hoped he'd make it but it didn't look like he was going to after the first couple of seasons post-draft, but glad he seems to be doing well with the Heat now.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Samuelsson

This is really good considering his 'attitude' was talked about being potentially as much of a problems as Ho-Sang's. Hope he can translate it to the big league, and if so it makes our D a lot stronger and gives us some expendable assets.

Side note: for some reason when we drafted Ollas Mattsson I took an instant liking to him, despite being drafted in the seventh round or whatever it was and having never seen him play or anything. Always hoped he'd make it but it didn't look like he was going to after the first couple of seasons post-draft, but glad he seems to be doing well with the Heat now.

Just loved that draft.

A guy that was supposed to go top five a year earlier slides and slides and slides and then the Flames move up and take him with the last pick of the second round.

Getting Andersson in the same draft was nuts.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Kylington is waiver eligible next year again, so they can keep him in the AHL for another 20 months if they choose too. Brilliant management of the asset to slide his contract twice ... kind of sucks for the player though.

If they get a left side injury they can get a better read on what they have, but if they don't they will have to make a decision.

3+ years left on Giordano
Hanifin a signed staple
Rasmus Andersson emerging.

Tough call in building the left side for the future and now.

We're going to lose someone really good to Seattle. Backlund/Bennett/Andersson/Kylington/Jankowksi.

Can't wait to see OK in the show.

[Samuelsson]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Just loved that draft.

A guy that was supposed to go top five a year earlier slides and slides and slides and then the Flames move up and take him with the last pick of the second round.

Getting Andersson in the same draft was nuts.

My mistake, Ollas Mattsson was a year earlier, but one of the last in the sixth round, so still crazy.

And you're right about the Andersson year. Looking through now and we drafted 5 players; Andersson, Kylington, Karnaukhov, Mangiapane and Riley Bruce. 1 already on the team, with 2 on the periphery, so a potential 'success' rate of 60%. And not one pick in the first or third round, if I remember correctly.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Kylington is waiver eligible next year again, so they can keep him in the AHL for another 20 months if they choose too. Brilliant management of the asset to slide his contract twice ... kind of sucks for the player though.

If they get a left side injury they can get a better read on what they have, but if they don't they will have to make a decision.

3+ years left on Giordano
Hanifin a signed staple
Rasmus Andersson emerging.

Tough call in building the left side for the future and now.

Sorry he is or isn’t waiver eligible next year?

[Beninho]

Flames have been smart with his development, it helps when you can take time with D prospects. Kylington has some amazing tools, can’t believe how young this defense is gonna be in the future.

[Erick Estrada]

He's similar to Jankowski in that he was a project that needed time to develop. No rush to bring him up anytime soon given the team already has an expensive 7th defensemen but it looks good going forward and probably means this is Stone's last season in Calgary as whether it be the trade deadline or draft the Flames will likely be looking to ship out the last year of his deal.