CALGARY — Oliver Kylington was pretty convinced last summer that he would remain a Calgary Flame for the foreseeable future.

The organization that drafted and developed him had also stood by his side throughout a painful mental health battle they supported him through.

He felt the love, and was wanted back. 

Yet, when free agency opened on July 1, the 27-year-old defenceman was unsigned and searching for a suitor.

It has proven to be a missed opportunity for both sides, as the biggest hole the Flames have in their lineup right now is a left-shot defender who can play alongside Mackenzie Weegar.

“I thought Calgary would happen,” Kylington told Sportsnet Thursday, making his first comments on the split mere hours before returning to the Dome for the first time as an Av. 

“That’s why it’s hard to talk about. There was a lot of stuff that happened behind the scenes, nothing to do with Calgary.”

Kylington has long kept his personal affairs out of the public eye, and wasn’t willing to delve any deeper on a subject that confounded many in and around the organization.

Both the Flames and Kylington seemed to indicate last spring that, given how respectful the two sides had been to one another through his year-and-a-half mental health break, a new contract would be easy to come up with.

A second-round draft pick of the Flames in 2015, who spent parts of five seasons in the minors before a breakthrough season in 2021-22 positioned him to be a second-pairing staple, he subsequently missed 18 months and wasn’t as effective when he returned.

Flames fans can only wonder whether he could have returned to the form that saw him score nine goals, 31 points and finish plus-34.

In his stead, the Flames have used a revolving door of defenders in search of someone who can mesh with Weegar.

Ilya Solovyov was summoned from the AHL this week in hopes that he can make an impact as the club contemplates going the trade route. 

While the Flames felt they offered Kylington fair value to return, he chose to test a market that fell through for him on several fronts. 

A costly miscalculation by the soft-spoken Swede.

By the time he circled back to the Flames, they had moved on, inking Jake Bean early on July 1 to essentially replace him.

“I’m not going to comment on everything, but there was a lot that happened at that time,” said Kylington, who signed a one-year, $1.05 million deal with Colorado more than a month later. (He’d made $2.5 million each of the previous two years.)

“(Free agency) was a new place for me to be in also. It was a new world, and a lot of stuff happened, and now I’m here.”

Kylington was brimming with excitement on Thursday, not just about his return to Calgary but also about being back in the lineup after a 10-week absence due to an upper-body injury.

A healthy scratch one game earlier, as he was so often early in the season, he managed to draw back in due to an injury to Josh Manson.

“A lot of emotions,” said Kylington, who played 13 minutes and finished minus-1 in a 4-2 win.

“Everything has just been special this day. Just happy to be back in Calgary, in general.

“I kind of grew up here. A lot of friendships I still have, and a lot of familiar faces I still enjoy seeing.

“It brings back a lot of good memories.” 

Revealing to Sportsnet last season that his mental break stemmed from trauma and betrayal involving his family, he was humbled by how many offered support upon his return to Calgary last season.

“I’m grateful, especially through my stuff I went through with my family, and the support and understanding from the whole city,” said Kylington.   

“The human side of things. It’s always been good people I’ve encountered in Calgary. People reaching out and being supportive.”

He said complete strangers would come up to him and offer kind words or offers to help.

“Yeah, it was crazy — from people who are not into hockey,” said Kylington, who had a good visit with a few of his former Flames teammates Wednesday night.

“That wasn’t something I was expecting. I was just trying to return to play hockey. I wasn’t aware or prepared to be recognized in that scenario. It was very special to get that feedback and support from people in Calgary.”

In and out of the lineup before his injury in late November, Kylington has had challenges in Denver, where he has only played eight games this season.

Yet, he’s quick to point out he’s been given plenty of assistance there too.

“Obviously, it was tough when I was injured, but feeling really good,” said Kylington, who insists the change of scenery has come with plenty of benefits.  

“It’s been different. I’ve liked it, I’ve enjoyed it, but with injuries, I haven’t had the start I was hoping for. I just want to finish it off good.”

“For me, it’s important I’m seeing something else, and learning and obviously trying to be better every day.

“I’ve enjoyed the new challenges.”