Another restricted free agent avoids arbitration.
Hours before the two sides were set to meet in front of an arbitrator to hammer out a new contract, the Calgary Flames and defenseman Oliver Kylington found common ground on Tuesday evening, agreeing to terms on a two-year extension worth an average annual value of $2.25 million.
The 25-year-old is coming off a breakout year in 2021-22, racking up nine goals and 22 assists for 31 points in 73 games for the Flames while logging upwards of 18 minutes per night in ice time. Kylington truly established himself as an adept puck mover in his first full NHL season, activating Calgary’s wingers and looking quite comfortable on a pairing with Chris Tanev.
Now locked in through the 2023-24 season, Kylington also further stabilizes a blueline that just welcomed Mackenzie Weegar and a re-signed Nikita Zadorov this summer.
After losing two franchise faces in Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, the Flames have done a fine job keeping their contention window open through, at the very least, next season, re-upping a number of complimentary pieces while swapping out their stars with the likes of Weegar and MVP candidate Jonathan Huberdeau.
With just over $6 million in cap space remaining, the Flames still have enough money left over to come to terms with Andrew Mangiapane, another key RFA who filed for arbitration and is scheduled to have a hearing in the coming days.
When all looked lost, Flames management kept their ship afloat. Kylington’s extension is another feather in their cap.