The Colorado Avalanche have signed defenseman Oliver Kylington to a one-year contract after he decided to sign an unrestricted free agent contract with the Calgary Flames. According to Elliotte Friedman, the transaction is worth $1.05 million.
The 27-year-old was a member of the Flames before, and he appeared in 33 games in the 2023–24 season after sitting out the entire 2022–23 season due to personal issues. Following his comeback, he scored three goals and provided five assists for a total of eight points. It has not been easy for Kylington to return to the NHL, and his struggles during this time perhaps made it more difficult to come to a deal with the Flames.
There was a rift when the Flames showed interest in re-signing him but were hesitant about the terms of the deal. Kylington reportedly wanted a long-term contract, but the Flames weren’t prepared to commit to that, according to the Flames Talk Podcast. This probably had a part in his choice to sign a one-year “prove it” contract with the Avalanche.
NHL Insiders were unsure of Kylington’s status with Flames general manager Craig Conroy for more than a month after free agency opened on July 1. Teams’ assessments of him became more complex due to his restricted playing time during the previous two seasons. The agreement with Colorado seems to indicate that not many teams were willing to commit a significant amount of money to the blueliner, as reports of a four-year contract with another team were never verified.
Now that the Avalanche is here, Kylington can make a name for himself and show off his abilities. He will have competition from left-shooting defenseman like Erik Brannstrom, Calvin de Haan, and Jacob MacDonald for a position in a strong blue line that also features Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, and Sam Girard.
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