Kylington set for conditioning stint after missing full season for personal reasons

The Calgary Flames assigned defenseman Oliver Kylington, who hasn't played since the 2022 playoffs for personal reasons, to the AHL for a conditioning stint on Thursday.

Kylington missed the entire 2022-23 campaign, as well as the start of the current season, to focus on his mental health. He said he's in a better place now as he seeks to resume his NHL career.

"I feel I'm in a good place with my mental health and ready to take another step forward," he said in a statement. "Returning to Calgary has been the right decision. I've felt tremendous commitment from Flames ownership, management, and my teammates, and I am appreciative of the support and resources made available to me. I also thank my family, friends, and the fans for their encouragement. I'm looking forward to getting on the ice in a team environment and back to my everyday life. I have missed it very much."

Kylington posted career highs in games played (73), points (31), and average ice time (18:10) in 2021-22 before taking time off.

He was a second-round pick of the Flames in 2015 and has made 168 career appearances for the club.