Breaking down Oliver Kylington's red-hot start to the season
Every year, we have someone come out of the gate looking like they were shot out of a cannon to start the season, completely wowing us with their improved level of play. There's a bunch of players that fit that bill to choose from so far, but my favourite of the bunch has been Calgary Flames defenceman Oliver Kylington.
The list of players I've enjoyed watching more than him through the first month is awfully short, which is lofty praise for any blueliner, let alone one that wasn't even really on the national radar prior to this explosion. But he's made it impossible not to take notice of what he's been doing out there.
Between game tape he's been laying down and the underlying numbers, what he's been churning out has been special. With each passing game, he's been adding to that resume and beefing up his case as a breakout star.
Let's use some of that video to illustrate his impact and help explain how he's been creating those results. Beyond just marvelling at his own unique story, there are also some relevant lessons about how young defencemen are handled in the NHL that can be applied to the entire league on a much larger scale.