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The Colorado Avalanche could have made the offseason’s best under-the-radar move 

The Colorado Avalanche could have pulled off this offseason's best under-the-radar move by signing Oliver Kylington to a one-year, "show-me" deal. As Kylington looks poised to have a solid bounce-back year, the Avs look to gain from Kylington's renewed motivation to play in the NHL.

By Nestor Quixtan

Oliver Kylington's signing could be one of the savviest moves ever by the Colorado Avalanche.
Oliver Kylington's signing could be one of the savviest moves ever by the Colorado Avalanche. / Leah Hennel/GettyImages
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The Colorado Avalanche’s signing of Oliver Kylington didn’t raise any eyebrows this offseason. But it should have. 

Joe Sakic, whose keen eye for talent has fueled the Colorado Avalanche’s success over the best part of a decade, was at work with Kylington. 

In fact, Kylington is a feel-good story.  

Kylington missed nearly two seasons dealing with injuries and mental health concerns. He had a stint on the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, coming back last season with a strong showing in 33 games with the Calgary Flames. 

The fact that the Flames didn’t re-sign Kylington is not a reflection on his performance, but the Flames’ lack of vision. Had Calgary been more thorough, they would have realized that Kylington was poised for a strong bounce-back season. 

Now, the Colorado Avalanche will be the recipients of that effort.  

Kylington’s one-year $1.05 million deal is a low-risk as they come. If he falters, the Avs can waive him without losing much in the process.  

But if Kylington excels, the move could look like one of the best deals in recent history. There’s cause to believe that Kylington, under a more positive and encouraging structure in Colorado, can emerge as more than just a bottom-pairing defenseman. 

If things go well for Kylington in Colorado, he could easily cement himself as an anchor on the blue line, playing tough minutes while giving top d-men like Cale Makar and Devon Toews a much-needed break. 

Predicting Oliver Kylington’s Performance with the Colorado Avalanche 

While a Norris Trophy isn’t exactly in the cards, a solid season of at least 70 games would be a wonderful outcome. Plus, if Kylington can chip in somewhere between 10 to 20 points, that could constitute an amazing offensive output. 

Then, there’s the defensive game itself.  

Kylington would be counted on to keep the opposition in check, particularly during key moments in games. We’re talking about key third-period shifts where the top blue liners need to get a breather before heading out for the final minutes of the game. 

In the playoffs, where play intensifies, strong, physical play would make Kylington a valuable asset. If the opponents know they’ll have to face tough customers like Oliver Kylington throughout the game, their overall game plan could be disrupted enough to give the big guns enough of a chance to dominate the outcome. 

In my estimation, Kylington should have a great year in Colorado. If things go well, he could be looking at a multi-year contract extension, keeping him with the club for the foreseeable future.  

Believe it or not, much of the Colorado Avalanche’s success this upcoming season hinges on the third defense pairing working out. If Kylington has a good year, that situation could well come to fruition. 

 

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