‘He did the work along the way. Oliver did the work. It’s a nice story that he’s getting to the point where he’s able to return,’ said Flames head coach Ryan Huska
“You feel the love,” he beamed afterward.
Kylington was, without a doubt, going to feel the love Thursday night as he returned to the Flames’ lineup for his first NHL appearance in 20 months.
Not just the love of teammates and others in the organization, but the love of a passionate fanbase and an entire city.
“It’s going to be so exciting for him. It’s going to be a great night,” predicted former Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau — now starring for the Columbus Blue Jackets — prior to Thursday’s showdown with his old squad at the Saddledome. “The fans will treat him so, so great. They’ll give a loud roar when he’s back here and they announce his name.
“I’m really, really happy for him.”
The entire hockey world has been rooting for Kylington.
Now 26, the smooth-skating blue-liner has missed the past season and a half for mental health reasons.
That’s why Thursday night was going to be so special.
“He’s a great friend and, obviously, it’s been a while since I saw him in game action,” said all-star centre Elias Lindholm, one of five Swedes — a list that also includes captain Mikael Backlund, starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom and workhorse rearguard Rasmus Andersson — in the Flames’ locker room. “It’s exciting for the whole team, if he plays, to have him back. It’s been a long road, but glad to see him back out there.”
Kylington, who needed to be activated from long-term injured reserve before the Flames would confirm his status for Thursday’s matchup with the Blue Jackets, was expected to skate alongside Jordan Oesterle on the third defence pair.
It would mark his first NHL outing since May 26, 2022. He suited up for two minor-league games during a recent conditioning stint with the AHL’s Wranglers.
It’s not just fans in the C of Red who have been tracking his comeback.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs were in town last week, former Flames captain Mark Giordano mentioned that he’d been following the news on Kylington, saying: “I heard he’s back playing, so happy to hear that. Really happy for him.”
Prior to his second game at the Saddledome as one of the out-of-town guests, Gaudreau reminisced about their five seasons together: “When I was here, playing with him, we had pre-game meal every single day together. It’s great to see him back here in Calgary and playing and enjoying playing. I’m super, super happy for him.”
While the Flames were excited about welcoming back a guy who piled up a career-high 31 points during the 2021-22 campaign and, as Andersson put it earlier this week, “can skate with the best in the league,” this storyline is so much bigger than what No. 58 brings to the blue-line.
“It’s just great to see him doing well,” said Andersson, who has been buddies with Kylington since both were selected by the Flames, only seven picks apart, in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft. “He’s a character. He’s a funny guy to be around. It’s great to see him back the way he used to be.”
For 19,000 fans, it would be great to see him back in the home lineup.
“We’re happy and proud of him that he’s stuck with it,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska of Kylington, who returned to Calgary in the fall. “And I think we have some really good people on our team and teammates that made sure that while he was here, he was always included. You can look to our Swedish players … I think they did a fantastic job of giving him what he needed at certain points in time so he knew that guys still loved him and whatever he needed from them, they were going to provide.
“He did the work along the way. Oliver did the work. It’s a nice story that he’s getting to the point where he’s able to return.”