CALGARY — Since his return to Calgary earlier this month, Oliver Kylington’s teammates have done their best to offer up their love, support and understanding, as the defenceman appeared on the precipice of returning from a year-long absence for personal reasons.
However, just four minutes into Thursday’s opening skate of training camp, the organization offered up a statement:
“Following yesterday’s medical and fitness testing, it was determined that Oliver is unable to participate in the opening of training camp today. As this is a private personal matter, no further information will be provided.”
It marked yet another sad development for a man so many people are cheering for.
He had skated with teammates as recently as this week, took part in Tuesday’s series of promo shoots at the Dome, and all indications from teammates and management spoke to just how exciting it would be to have the 26-year-old back.
Now this.
“We really miss him,” said fellow Swede, Mikael Backlund.
“I got to see him before camp in Calgary — it’s good that he’s over here. I hope he finds his way. It was great to catch up with him.
“We miss him in the room. He brings a lot of energy in the room, and on the ice he’s a tremendous player. But his health comes first and we have to let him take his time.”
Kylington, who skated in Sweden throughout his absence, told a Swedish media outlet last month he missed all of last season dealing with mental and psychological problems stemming from years of family issues he said “escalated” and got worse.
However, it seemed he was ready to return for camp, to honour the final year of his two-year contract.
“I’m really looking forward to a new season,” he said in the Swedish interview.
“I’ve only felt commitment from the management in Calgary and my teammates, and that helps for sure.
“It will be fun to get back to my every-day life.”
Sadly, jumping back onto the ice, and the spotlight that brings as a top-six defender, appears to have been too much of a leap at this time.
Like last year, all those in the organization are sympathetic to his plight, and want him to take all the time he needs.
“I haven’t seen the statement, but I’ve seen him a few times and if he needs to take time for himself that’s what he needs to do,” said Rasmus Andersson, another Swedish teammate who was drafted the same year as Kylington.
“The most important thing for him is his own health — the hockey comes second here. You never want to see a teammate or good friend suffer.
“I just hope he can recover and take the time he needs to get back on track because we all know how good a player he is. We say how good he was two seasons ago. He’s dynamic in his game, and his skating, and moving the puck. It sucks that he’s not with us now, but I hope he takes the time he needs.”
In his first full season with the Flames, Kylington burst onto the scene in 2021-22 with nine goals and 31 points alongside Chris Tanev. He was a dynamic, second-pairing defenceman whose speed and offensive creativity gave the Flames blue-line depth that helped them win their division.
In his absence Thursday, Kylington’s spot alongside Tanev was filled by free agent signing Jordan Oesterle, while Andersson skated with Noah Hanifin and MacKenzie Weegar was paired with Nikita Zadorov.
Rugged Dennis Gilbert will also undoubtedly see plenty of NHL action this season.
All the while, the hope is Kylington’s long road to recovery ends soon with a camp appearance.
TOP-LINE SEARCH BEGINS
Thursday’s opening skate surprised no one when the top line that all armchair coaches had projected all summer long was pieced together, with Elias Lindholm centring Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich.
Although Lindholm and Huberdeau failed to mesh last year in their limited time together, new coach Ryan Huska is counting on Huberdeau’s playmaking skills, Lindholm’s two-way play and Sharangovich’s heavy shot from his off wing meshing.
As Huska said, combos will change throughout camp, but this is one that will have the most eyeballs on it, especially since it includes the 25-year-old Belarusian acquired for Tyler Toffoli.
“We know he can shoot the puck and that’s the reason we’re starting him where he is right now,” said Huska of the former 24-goal scorer from the New Jersey Devils.
“He’s got to do a good job finding open space and figuring out how Jonathan likes to move the puck, and what Elias likes to do on the ice.”
A peek at the other most intriguing lines:
Adam Ruzicka – Nazem Kadri – Dillon Dube
Andrew Mangiapane – Mikael Backlund – Blake Coleman
Jakob Pelletier – Kevin Rooney – Walker Duehr
Sam Honzek – Connor Zary – Matt Coronato
CONTRACTUALLY SPEAKING
Lindholm reiterated that contract talks with the club haven’t progressed much since the team’s early-summer offer.
Several players insisted the contract status of pending free agents like Hanifin, Backlund, Tanev, Zadorov and Kylington won’t be a distraction in the room, deeming it nothing more than “outside noise” from the media.
The Flames announced they signed Parker Bell to a three-year entry level deal. Bell, a fifth-round pick from 2022, is a 19-year-old power forward with Tri-City whose performance in camp will help dictate whether he’ll play as an overager in the WHL or, more likely, with the AHL Wranglers. The six-foot-four, 205-pound left winger had 25 goals and 64 points in 55 games with the Americans last year.
NEW LOOK
The dressing room renovations the team made to signify a new era were subtle, as the player pictures that sat atop every player’s stall were replaced by the words Commitment, Compete and Consistency.
The other C word — captain — was thrown around plenty on the opening day, as the scenario is clear — if Backlund is keen on re-upping with the club in the next few weeks, the gig is his.
If not, Andersson is the leading candidate.
The pre-season opens Sunday night at home against the Vancouver Canucks.