Calgary Flames defenceman Oliver Kylington has been named by the NHL as a top-three finalist for the Masterton Trophy.
This was to be expected, as Kylington returned to the Flames in late January after missing the past season and a half due to mental health issues, which he opened up about last summer.
“It was mental and psychological problems I suffered from,” Kylington said in Swedish to HockeyNewsSE (translated with Google Translate). “I think I’m dealing with the problem like maybe everyone else does, by just sweeping it under the rug and putting the lid on, but for me, it led to mental illness, and I felt very bad about how I handled my problems and almost hit the wall and felt that enough is enough.”
It appeared that Kylington was on track to return for the start of the 2023-24 season, but that all changed when it was announced that he was unable to go on the first day of training camp.
The 26-year-old didn’t give up, however, and was eventually able to make his return on January 25 in a game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets. To little surprise, those at the Saddledome gave him a roaring ovation.
We love you Shilly! pic.twitter.com/lrOdlZUCEw
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) January 26, 2024
“It’s touching, for sure. It really is,” Kylington said following his season debut. “I just want to give it back. I just want to show my abilities on the ice, and I think that’s my way to give it back. I have to work hard and keep going here. I want to show my best.”
Kylington went on to play 33 games this season, mainly in a third-pairing role. He chipped in offensively with three goals and eight points while averaging 17:15 minutes in ice time. Considering how much time he had missed, fans were quite impressed with how seamlessly he was able to fit back into the lineup.
More to come…
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