KYLINGTON SAYS FLAMES KNOW WHERE HIS LOYALTY IS
`Everyone knows that I want to be a part of this team,' defenceman notes
The Calgary Flames expect Oliver Kylington to be a key piece of their long-term plan.
That feeling is mutual.
While Kylington's contract is up at the end of this season, the soon-to-be free agent has talked about reciprocating the commitment that he felt during his lengthy leave of absence for mental health reasons. During an interview with Postmedia, he reiterated his loyalty to the Flames but also stressed the importance of not letting his focus stray from what he can control.
“I think everyone knows that I want to be a part of this team and this organization,” Kylington said. “The organization, my teammates and coaches and fans, the love that they have been giving me, I just want to do what I can to return the favour. I think it's a very genuine relationship on all terms and I want to do my best to try to help our team win in any situation. So I think they know where my loyalty is.
“We'll see what happens in the off-season or coming up here with the trading deadline. That's out of my control. I can't control that, but I'm just trying to show with my play.”
Just two weeks out from trade deadline day, it's that time of year when pending unrestricted free agents — especially on teams sitting south of the playoff cut-off — are wise to keep a suitcase ready.
It's become obvious that by 1 p.m. MT on March 8, the
Flames will bid farewell to Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, both on expiring contracts. They are the best blueliners available on the rental market, with plenty of contenders calling to gauge the asking price.
The 26-year-old Kylington, despite also needing a new deal this summer, isn't going anywhere.
Once the deadline passes, an extension for No. 58 will be among Craig Conroy's top priorities. While there have been no formal negotiations, that's simply because both sides wanted to focus on his return to play.
“I can't control that. I can only control what we are doing right now,” said Kylington, who is nearing the end of a two-year, Us$5-million pact that was signed in August 2022. “I think, just in general with mental awareness, it's about reminding yourself that you have to understand what you can control and what you cannot control.
“Life, in general, has taught me a lot of s---.”
Kylington's return to action — when he suited up on Jan. 25, it was his first NHL appearance in 609 days — has been one of the feel-good stories of this season, not just for the Flames but throughout the hockey world.
The skilled Swede has now played 10 consecutive games, averaging just north of 14 minutes per night. Arguably the most gifted skater on Calgary's roster, it's becoming more common to see him scooting into the offensive attack.
As head coach Ryan Huska put it: “I feel like he's starting to get comfortable again with who he is and how he can play the game and how he can help our team win.”
On Family Day, Kylington burst through the neutral zone, weaved through two Winnipeg Jets and buried a backhander for his first NHL goal in nearly 21 months.
He tallied again in Thursday's overtime victory over the Boston Bruins, zipping a glove-side shot past Linus Ullmark, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Huska was equally impressed postgame with Kylington's work on the penalty kill, including a gutsy block to thwart a scoring chance by David Pastrnak.
“To be honest, I've felt like the transition, coming back to game action, I think it has been very easy to adapt to it right away,” Kylington told Postmedia.
“… My confidence in hockey has never changed. I know what I can do and what I can give my teammates. It's never been a hockey-related issue mentally for me. So actually, it hasn't surprised me, to be honest. It was just not really knowing what to expect after being away for so long. Because it had been only Michael Jordan — and who else — who has been gone for that long and come back.”
The legendary hoopster is an interesting reference. When Kylington celebrated Monday's marker against the Jets, he jumped so high that he probably could have dunked a basketball.
“I was happy for him, really happy for him,” said fellow Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson. “It's not just the goal, though. I think, ever since he started playing again, he's played really well. He's enjoying it. You can see the smile back on his face. And that's what we care about.”
The hope is that smile will be a staple at the Saddledome for years to come.
“I'm just thankful that I have taken care of what I could have controlled and I'm just happy that I'm back and playing again,” Kylington said.