Free agency has been going on for over a month now, and most top players are already signed.
However, there are still some interesting names left, like defenseman Oliver Kylington. The past three years have been a rollercoaster for the 27-year-old. In the 2021-22 season, he had an amazing year with 31 points in 73 games and averaged over 18 minutes per game, ranking fourth among Calgary’s defensemen.
Kylington showed improvement but didn’t become a star player. So, the Flames gave him a two-year bridge contract worth $5M. This deal provided cap flexibility and was a safety net in case his performance dropped. If he kept improving, he could have earned big money in free agency. But things didn’t go as planned. Kylington missed all of the 2022-23 season due to mental health issues and returned to play only in January last season.
When he came back, Calgary eased him into games slowly. It took him until his 13th game to get back to averaging more than 18 minutes per night . He played in just 33 games with modest stats: three goals, five assists while logging an average of 17:15 per game.
Potential Teams:
Kylington’s options depend on what he’s looking for next. If he wants more playing time, joining a weaker team might be best so he can be a fourth defender and rebuild his value. On the other hand, joining a contending team could mean less ice time but being part of a winning environment might help long-term.
In the East:
- Penguins: They need another solid defenseman and have enough cap space.
- Carolina: With Alexander Nikishin not ready yet, Kylington could fill that gap.
- Rangers: They might prefer Kylington over Zachary Jones for their third pairing but he’d need to take less money due to cap constraints.
Fans might think it’s surprising that such talent is still available this late into free agency!
Out West:
- Sharks: Adding veterans like Kylington could make them more competitive.
- Blues: If Ryan Suter isn’t enough insurance against Torey Krug’s injury, Kylington could be valuable.
- Flames Reunion? Although it seems unlikely now, there were talks about an extension back in June.
Kylington barely missed our Top 50 UFA list; he was just two spots shy! Initially aiming for a two-year deal above $2.5M AAV from his expired contract seems unrealistic now . A one-year deal around $1.5M is more probable at this stage.
What do you think? Should Kylington take whatever offer comes or hold out for something better?
