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Flames' Oliver Kylington to use NHL Draft drop as motivation

Flames' Oliver Kylington to use NHL Draft drop as motivation

SUNRISE, Fla. — The waiting was the hardest part for Oliver Kylington. The 18-year defenseman from Sweden was pegged by many as a first rounder, but fell to 60th and the Calgary Flames.

“It was a bit tough,” he said after the selection. “I was nervous sitting there and waiting, but I’m just happy now be part of the NHL and part of the Calgary Flames.”

Kylington said he had a clue he’d go anywhere from 15, which Calgary originally had before dealing it as part of the Dougie Hamilton trade, to the second round, but he knew to expect the unexpected. The Flames had expressed interest, speaking with him in Stockholm and again during the NHL Combine earlier this month in Buffalo.

The 6-foot, 185 lbs. blueliner played 35 games between Farjsted and AIK last season, posting 6 goals and 12 points. He was also busy internationally, repping Sweden at the U-18s and with the U-20 team.

"He's a mobile, good, two-way defenseman with excellent skating ability," NHL Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb told NHL.com in January. "He loves to join the rush and plays a solid positional game in the defensive zone; he makes a good first pass."

"With Oliver, he's an interesting player," said Flames GM Brad Treliving. "Prior to the start of the year this guy's talked about as one of the top players in the draft. He's an elite skater. He's as good a skater as there is in the draft. Now we've got to refine his game."

Once Kylington gets done with Flames rookie game, he’ll head to Spain to work out with Johnny Oduya of the Chicago Blackhawks. The two have developed a big brother-little brother relationship, thanks to their fathers, who have known one another for a long time.

Kylington is still under contract with AIK and will play there next season. After that, he has a clause in his deal allowing him to leave, but that decision is a ways down the line.

“I don’t want to say I’m going to play in the NHL next year, but you never know,” he said. “I’m just focusing to do the season with AIK right now. Then we’ll see what happens.”

Like many prospects who land lower than many expected, Kylington plans to use this experience as motivation for the future.

“I think it’s better for me,” he said. “I think it makes me wants to show everybody that maybe you should have picked me at 15. It makes me want to keep going and work harder.”

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!