Flames president Don Maloney: Oliver Kylington is ‘excited about coming back next season’

Friends, we have good news to share about the status of a certain Oliver Kylington.

At his press conference on Monday, Calgary Flames president of hockey operations Don Maloney said he recently chatted with Kylington about his return to the team next season.

“Good news, last week, when talking to Oliver Kylington — it certainly seems he’s in a very good place,” Maloney said. “He told me he’s very excited about coming back next season, which is very positive for the organization.”

After emerging as a bona fide top-four defenceman for the Flames in the 2021–22 regular season and subsequent playoffs, Kylington missed the entire 2022–23 season for undisclosed personal reasons.

In recent days, Kylington posted videos on his personal social media channels showing him skating in Flames gear, bringing about speculation that he might be preparing to return in 2023–24. The 25-year-old defenceman is under contract through the end of next season at a $2.5 million cap hit.

The Flames originally selected Kylington in the second round (No. 60 overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. The six-foot defender, who shoots left, scored nine goals and 31 points in 73 games with the Flames in the 2021–22 regular season and added a goal and two assists in 12 playoff contests.

Kylington’s absence was sorely felt in Calgary during the 2022–23 season and the news of his impending return is, as Maloney said, a terrific development for the organization. The Flames are looking to return to the playoffs after missing by three points in 2023, a development which cost head coach Darryl Sutter his job on Monday.