What happened between Oliver Kylington and the Flames? Mailbag, part 1

We’re still a month away from preseason NHL action and two months away from meaningful regular-season games. But we’re not short on questions for our Calgary Flames mailbag, including one burning question that’s been on the tip of many fans’ tongues since the opening day of free agency.

Note: Submitted questions may be edited for clarity and style.

Julian. What really happened with Kylington and the contract? Or perhaps more appropriately, what do you think happened? Flames GM Craig Conroy seemed to write him off quickly this spring and the Avalanche just picked up a good d-man for cheap. — Pete S. 

Here is the Oliver Kylington story as best as I can explain it.

The Flames approached Kylington in late June with a one-year contract, days before free agency was set to open. Kylington wanted a two-year contract. When Conroy held court with the media following the 2024 NHL Draft in Vegas, he had no update to provide on contract negotiations, but both sides at the time were trying to negotiate a new contract. Ultimately, the Flames weren’t interested in giving Kylington term and they let him walk on July 1.

According to Kylington’s agent, J.P. Barry, the defenceman was willing to sign a one-year deal with the Flames once he hit the market. But the Flames had already moved on, with Conroy telling the media “the door is probably closed a little bit on that” on July 1.

The Flames opened free agency with a handful of short-term deals, including the signing of former Columbus Blue Jackets defender Jake Bean to a two-year contract with a $1.75 million AAV. Meanwhile, Kylington had to wait over a month after free agency opened up, signing a one-year, $1.05 million prove-it deal with the Colorado Avalanche while other defencemen found new homes through signings and trades.

It is still not entirely clear as to why the Flames weren’t willing to go longer than one more season with Kylington, but it is their choice. I thought Kylington might get some luck given the way teams were spending on July 1. But it wasn’t to be. The Flames are seemingly content with Bean, newcomer Kevin Bahl and the rest of their defence corps that will lean more on MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson.

It’s a surprising end to one of the Flames’ few feel-good stories this past year in which Kylington returned to the team after a family issue forced him home to Sweden. Kylington was even a Masterton Trophy finalist, losing out to goaltender Connor Ingram.

Dustin Wolf signed to a two-way deal. Frank Seravalli suggested it’s Vladar’s net and Wolf/Cooley are fighting for the backup role. Is there any validity to that scenario? It seems as though management would want Wolf to prove himself on the Flames this season. — Sheldon V. 

We’ve got you covered on that Wolf signing, with analysis over here. Also, while Wolf is waiver-exempt this coming season, it has nothing to do with his two-way deal. A two-way deal only affects how much money a player will make in the NHL and AHL. For example, Wolf will make $850,000 in the NHL and $275,000 in the AHL according to PuckPedia.

The Flames do want Wolf to prove himself in goal this coming season and they’ll give him every opportunity to show that in training camp. While I expect Dan Vladar to start more games this season, I see them both as a battery tandem as opposed to a clear No. 1 and a clear No. 2. But that can change depending on how either goalie plays. I don’t think the Flames will restrict Wolf from playing if he shows he’s the better option.

Devin Cooley will push Wolf, but he’s insurance. If Wolf needs more seasoning in the AHL, the Flames could always call up Cooley from the AHL Wranglers and lean on him and Vladar until Wolf is ready to return. If I’m a betting man, Vladar will start the Flames’ first regular-season game, but you’ll see Wolf in the back-to-back that first weekend (I say he gets the Philadelphia start at home before Vladar gets Edmonton on the road).

Of course, I’m making these predictions one month before training camp. So, yeah, we’ll see how that plays out.

Zayne Parekh in Las Vegas during this summer’s 2024 NHL Draft. (Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today)

How good would Zayne Parekh need to be for the Flames to keep him on the roster knowing that he can improve his defensive game while becoming bigger and stronger while playing in junior? — Rick W. 

I think Parekh would have to be undeniably good for the Flames to keep him around. And even then, it could just be for nine games before sending him back to junior hockey.

What does ‘undeniably good’ look like? To me, it’s providing offence and flashing confidence and skill at every turn. It also means making fewer defensive mistakes than anticipated. If he helps the Flames convert chances or move the puck around fluidly on the power play, that’s also helpful.

Do I expect Parekh to make the Flames out of training camp this year? No. It also wouldn’t be a failure if he didn’t. He is an 18-year-old who can benefit from more time developing his defence in junior before becoming a full-time NHLer and the Flames cannot afford to rush him before he’s ready.

But if he somehow proved he was, I don’t think the Flames would be too upset.

Do you see a scenario where the Flames are looking for another top 5-10 pick this year and really tanking the following year with an eye toward the McKenna draft? — Lam W. 

The players dictate the circumstances, Lam.

As I look at this year’s roster, I see a lottery team. The Flames will have some veterans who can help their youth. But their quality altogether pales in comparison to their previous seasons — including the last two seasons in which they missed the playoffs. I think they lost a lot of blood through their rebuilding efforts. It might not mean playoff hockey for a while, but I can see them being bad enough to land another top-10 pick next season.

If the Flames genuinely want to compete this coming season, it means asking players like Weegar, Yegor Sharangovich and even Blake Coleman to replicate their career seasons from last year. Don’t forget Nazem Kadri who also had a 75-point season last year as well. It’s a tall order.

Unless the Flames’ youth grows up fast, and the Flames’ veterans do their part in keeping the ship afloat, I can see another bad year in 2026 when Gavin McKenna becomes available. I am not convinced the Flames will be bad enough to get him, however. But we’re way ahead on that front. Not to mention the ping pong balls of the draft lottery determine everything.

I’m going to be a negative Nelly here and bring up something that may rub some people the wrong way: Do you honestly think Jakob Pelletier factors into the Flames’ long-term plans? They will have six spots for top-nine wingers when they are contending in X amount of years. Between Zary, Pospisil, Sharangovich (who I think should be moved to centre), Matt Coronato, Matvei Gridin, Andrew Basha, Jacob Battaglia, William Stromgren, and let’s not forget — Jonathan Huberdeau will not get moved — where does Pelletier fit in? — Daniel K. 

I think this coming season looks like a make-or-break year for Pelletier. Two seasons ago, a third-line spot looked like a guaranteed position for him. He didn’t play well enough in training camp to get it. Last year, an injury in preseason derailed his start. When he got healthy again, he only lasted four games before another injury sidelined him again. His next nine games after that were below grade and he finished the year in the minors. This past year was filled with setbacks for Pelletier and he’s had to work back from that.

Pelletier’s ceiling as of now looks like a scrappy, energetic bottom-six player. He could fit what the Flames need right now, playing next to Mikael Backlund and Coleman on the third line. I think if he provides some solid secondary production, pace and good vibes, he will be kept around for the foreseeable future. Especially if other rookies like Gridin, Basha and Battaglia aren’t ready yet. But if it doesn’t work out this year, and someone else in the Flames’ minor-league system grabs his spot, he’s in danger of being on the outside looking in.

On another note, I think Stromgren is trending toward seeing NHL games this coming season. He’s shown a lot of improvement since the beginning of this calendar year. If he continues his upward trajectory, I think he’ll be called up at some point. Perhaps not a Day 1 NHL starter on the fourth line, but certainly an option.

(Top photo of Oliver Kylington: Leah Hennel / Getty Images)