Swedish defenseman Oliver Kylington is still a free agent. Considering how many of his countrymen are on the Pittsburgh Penguins, could the two sides agree on a deal?
In the dog days of summer, every NHL team has just about set their rosters with minor adjustments planned before training camp opens in September.
The Pittsburgh Penguins may be done spending in free agency and don't have much wiggle room to make a blockbuster trade.
However, browsing the remaining free agents available, one name sticks out: Oliver Kylington, formerly of the Calgary Flames.
If the Swedish defenseman's name sounds familiar, he's been in the news since 2022. He opted to take an entire year off to focus on his mental health. The Flames paid him while he remained home to take care of himself.
Kylington played his last NHL game on May 26, 2022, and did not return to the show until Jan. 25, 2024.
In one of the most feel-good stories of last season, Kylington's return earned him a Bill Masterton Trophy nomination.
Upon his return, he scored three goals and eight points in 33 games while playing 17:15 a night.
Kylington last played an entire season in 2021-22, scoring 31 points in 73 games and earning a plus-34 rating.
In Calgary, the Stockholm native was surrounded by fellow Swedes like captain Mikael Backlund, Rasmus Andersson, Calle Järnkrok, Elias Lindholm, and Jacob Markström.
When he came back, only Backlund, Andersson, and Markström remained, and now the list is down to just two after Markström wound up in New Jersey.
Some ramblings online suggest that Andersson may be available to assist the Flames' rebuild. If he re-signed there, he'd be one of two Swedish players with Backlund.
This brings us to Pittsburgh. Seven Swedes are under contract, including Sebastian Aho, Emil Bemstrom, Erik Karlsson, Filip Larsson, Marcus Pettersson, Jesse Puljujarvi, and Rickard Rakell.
On his last contract, Kylington earned $2.5 million. Given the circumstances, he won't make the same without proving he can still produce at an elite level, which allows the Penguins to ink him into a relatively cost-efficient deal and give him a chance.
There would be no better place for him to continue his NHL career than with a place where he would feel comfortable, surrounded by players who speak his native language and can help him adjust to a new city.
Considering that Kylington is only 27 and he's played only 201 games in the NHL, he's still a young player with a chance to contribute in a limited role that doesn't include playing top-pairing minutes or anchoring special teams.
Ultimately, an agreement between Kylington and the Penguins seems logical at this stage of the summer.