Kylington still on open market after promising but stalled path with the Flames so far

Oliver Kylington doesn't owe the Calgary Flames anything. 

Yes, the Flames have treated the 27-year-old defenceman very well during his mental health journey. The franchise did everything right in allowing Kylington all the privacy and time he needed to make an impressive return to the ice last season after nearly two years away from the NHL. 

They deserve credit for considering the human over the hockey asset, allowing his two-year deal to run uncontested while he took time away from the game to focus solely on a path to wellness. But there should be no expectation of a discount, or loyalty. We're frequently reminded of the business side of the sport. 

Still, the fact Kylington reached free agency without an extension with the Calgary Flames — the team that drafted and nourished him as a prospect and a person — is somewhat surprising. It's believed that the difference in negotiations was fairly minor, with the Kylington camp hoping for another two-year term with a modest raise from the $2.5 million he earned in each of the last two 'lost' seasons. The Flames may want to mitigate some of the risk after absorbing the cap hit and stick to the same deal they offered the up-and-comer last time around, or try it again for one year. 

That part is unknown, but considering the time invested by both sides, it would be sad for many Flames fans to see the relationship end this way without knowing what heights Kylington might hit as a Flame.