'I really feel like I did myself a big favor'

Flames defenseman Kylington opens up about the mental battle that kept him away from the NHL last season

Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington is ready to return to the Stampede City after missing all of last season while battling “mental and psychological problems.”

In an interview with Henrik Sjoberg of HockeyNews.se, Kylington, 26, said he missed the 2022-23 campaign dealing with issues that were impacting his health and welfare.

“These are things that have been going on in the family for many years but which escalated to become worse and there were mental and psychological problems I suffered from,” Kylington said (translated from Swedish).

“I think I deal with the problem like maybe everyone else does, by just sweeping it under the rug and putting the lid on,” he added. “But for me it led to mental illness and I felt very bad about how I dealt with my problems and almost went into the wall and felt that now it's enough... I needed to face these problems we had as a family and today I am incredibly grateful for this journey I started and then had to finish.”

Kylington, who collected nine goals and 22 points in 73 games in the 2021-22 season, has one year remaining on a contract worth $2.5 million. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent after the coming season.

Kylington said among the treatments he used was cognitive-behavioural therapy, and it was crucial to work past any stigma involved with mental illness.

“It was definitely a fear to share things that are so close to one’s heart. … I do not want to go into details about what happened, but it was a great shame I had to talk about things like this. Society is programmed not to display negative emotions,” he said “People think it’s not okay to feel bad. I used escape behaviors when things get in front of one’s face because it’s the easiest way out. I quickly understood that when you dare to show yourself vulnerable to other people, you really get closer to people. It is more a sign of strength than weakness.

“I learned a lot about myself and I learned to understand that fears about one’s problems are only guided by one’s own shame, and I had trouble putting my feelings into words because I was so ashamed of the problems I had with my family. I am incredibly grateful for how many people supported me and helped me get the right help. I really feel like I did myself a big favor.”

The Flames dearly missed the dynamic defenseman last season, but it would appear he is returning to the club in a much better frame of mind.

“I feel great. It’s fun to get started, and I’m really looking forward to a new season,” he said. “I’ve only felt commitment from the management in Calgary and my teammates and that helps for sure. It will be fun to get back to my everyday life. I have missed it very much.”