Oliver Kylington (/ˈtʃɪlɪŋtən/ CHIL-ing-tən;[1] born 19 May 1997) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played in the NHL for the Calgary Flames, who drafted him 60th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
| Oliver Kylington | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Kylington with Färjestad BK in 2014 | |||
| Born |
19 May 1997 Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Colorado Avalanche Färjestad BK Calgary Flames | ||
| NHL draft |
60th overall, 2015 Calgary Flames | ||
| Playing career | 2013–present | ||
Early life
editKylington was born in Stockholm to a Swedish father and an Eritrean mother. His mother, Teber Zeru, settled in Sweden as a teenage refugee from the Eritrean War of Independence. She and Kylington's father Börje met in Stockholm.[2] By the time he reached adulthood, all of Kylington's mother's family lived in Sweden.[3]
Kylington grew up in Sundbyberg in the Stockholm urban area, where he played handball, floorball, soccer, and hockey.[4][5] Since his childhood, he has been mentored by Johnny Oduya, to whom he was introduced by his father.[6][3]
Playing career
editKylington made his Swedish Hockey League (SHL) debut as a 16-year-old playing with Färjestad BK during the 2013–14 season.[7] He scored his first goal in September 2013, becoming the youngest player to score in the SHL at 16 years, 4 months, and 9 days old.[8] On 10 January 2014, having impressed at SHL level, Kylington was signed to a two-year contract extension to remain with Färjestad BK.[9] His KHL rights were attained by Avangard Omsk who drafted him 107th overall in the 2014 KHL Junior Draft.
During his second SHL season in 2014–15, Kylington was loaned by Färjestads to HockeyAllsvenskan team, AIK on 10 November 2014.[10] He produced four goals and seven points, the most in the Allsvenskan by an under-18 player, in 17 games with AIK before returning to Färjestad to finish the season ranked in the top-ten European skaters to be eligible for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[11] On 13 May 2015, with the intention of more playing time to further his development, it was announced Kylington had agreed to a two-year contract to return to AIK of the Allsvenskan.[12]
Kylington was drafted in the second round, 60th overall, (a pick acquired via the Arizona Coyotes) by the Calgary Flames in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. On 15 July 2015, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team.[13] On the direction of the Flames organization, Kylington decided against continuing with AIK and remained in North America to be assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Stockton Heat, to begin the 2015–16 season. On 9 April 2016, Kylington made his NHL debut in a game against the Minnesota Wild.[14]
Kylington began the 2018–19 season in the American Hockey League with the Stockton Heat.[15] He was recalled to the NHL and recorded his first career NHL goal in a 5–2 win over the Nashville Predators.[16]
During the 2021–22 season, Kylington posted career-highs in goals, assists, and points with the Flames.[17] He recorded three points in twelve games during the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs before the Flames were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the Second Round.[citation needed]
Shortly before the start of the 2022–23 season, Flames general manager Brad Treliving stated that Kylington would miss the start of training camp.[18] In November 2022, Treliving stated that Kylington had returned to Sweden to attend to an undisclosed personal matter.[19] By February 2023, Kylington did not return to the Flames and stayed in Sweden.[20] He returned to the Flames' training camp the following season but was unable to participate due to personal matters.[21]
After missing the whole of the 2022–23 season, Kylington was eventually able to return to the Flames midway through the 2023–24 season, starting his first game in eighteen months on January 25, 2024. He appeared in 33 games, managing three goals and five assists. In recognition of his return to the lineup, he was voted a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey."[22]
As a free agent following the 2023–24 season, Kylington signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on 5 August 2024.[23]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2011–12 | Djurgårdens IF | J18 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Djurgårdens IF | J18 Allsv | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Södertälje SK | J18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Södertälje SK | J18 Allsv | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Södertälje SK | J20 | 39 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Färjestad BK | J18 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Färjestad BK | J20 | 21 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Färjestad BK | SHL | 32 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15 | Färjestad BK | J20 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 2014–15 | Färjestad BK | SHL | 18 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | AIK | Allsv | 17 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Stockton Heat | AHL | 47 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Stockton Heat | AHL | 60 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | Stockton Heat | AHL | 62 | 7 | 28 | 35 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Stockton Heat | AHL | 18 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 38 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 48 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Stockton Heat | AHL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 73 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2023–24 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 33 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| SHL totals | 50 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| NHL totals | 201 | 17 | 38 | 55 | 52 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Sweden | IH18 | 4th | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2015 | Sweden | WJC18 | 8th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2017 | Sweden | WJC | 4th | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | |
| Junior totals | 17 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 14 | ||||
References
edit- ^ 2020–21 National Hockey League Pronunciations. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ Stevenson, Chris (3 December 2014). "Skating, skill make Kylington's prospects intriguing". National Hockey League. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Mother's journey an inspiration for Flames prospect Kylington". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Kylington skadad när AIK förlorade hemma". DN.se (in Swedish). 9 December 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Oliver Kylington". NHL. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Cruickshank, Scott. "The unique mentorship that's helped guide Oliver Kylington's rapid rise to the NHL". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Färjestad BK 2013–14 player statistics". eliteprospects.com. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ^ "Sport: 16-åring historisk målskytt i SHL". SVT Sport (in Swedish). 28 September 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "FBK extends supertalent Kylington" (in Swedish). Färjestad BK. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ "AIK land Kylington on loan" (in Swedish). AIK IF. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ "NHL Central's final rankings". National Hockey League. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Two super talents boost AIK" (in Swedish). AIK IF. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ "Flames sign prospect Oliver Kylington". Calgary Flames. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "Kylington caps off busy year with NHL debut". Calgary Flames. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ Anderson, Kristen (26 September 2018). "Five points to ponder as Flames whittle down roster". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
Heading to Stockton immediately? Right-wingers Spencer Foo and Matthew Phillips, left-wingers Brett Pollock and Ryan Lomberg, and defencemen Oliver Kylington and Adam Ollas-Mattsson.
- ^ Dittrick, Ryan (8 December 2018). "FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME". National Hockey League. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
- ^ "Oliver Kylington Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Flames updates: Mangiapane, Kylington to miss start of training camp". Sportsnet.ca. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Gould, Mike (14 November 2022). "Treliving: Flames keeping in touch with Oliver Kylington on regular basis". FlamesNation. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ McKenzie, Julian (30 January 2023). "Flames trade targets, Darryl Sutter's Jakob Pelletier comments, more: Brad Treliving Q&A". The Athletic. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ "Flames Statement Regarding Oliver Kylington". National Hockey League. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ Satriano, David (2 May 2024). "Andersen, Ingram, Kylington named Masterton Trophy finalists". NHL.com. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Avalanche signs Kylington". NHL.com. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
External links
edit
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database