Kylington: Player Struggles & Analysis

Djurgården got the chance to strengthen the team with NHL meritorious defender Oliver Kylington – and took it.

28-year-old Kylington is from Stockholm and has a close bond with several in the team and the club and signed a one-year contract.

In the debut at home against Örebro on October 23, there was a win and Kylington played just over 17 minutes.

When the SHL is now at the halftime break, Oliver Kylington has played twelve games, scored two goals and three assists and he is now up to 20:47 in average ice time. It is clear most in Djurgården where Colby Sissons is the one with the second most ice time of the outfield players at 19:30.

Kylington is very critical and nuanced when he assesses his and his team’s efforts. As in the turn against Timrå last Saturday. After a good first period, it was a worse second and 1–0 became 1–2 and Djurgården had to chase.

– We had a slump in the second period where I think we didn’t play well at all. It cost us a goal behind. We mixed and gave over 60 minutes, but it was really a fighting effort to come back and turn the game around and win on penalties. We should be proud of our comeback, but there are parts of the game where I don’t think we play to our ability at all given how we start the game, Kylington told Hockeynews.

Djurgården also created some obstacles for themselves. Like when Colby Sissons went out on 2+2 minutes halfway into the game at 1-1.

– I thought that even before the box play happened, we were not in rhythm at all. Then they get a four-minute power play that we kill well. Then we concede a goal two substitutions later.

“We should get expulsions, which didn’t happen”

Kylington felt, just like the home crowd at Hovet, that Djurgården did not directly flow with him in the assessments from the judges every time.

– I thought that in certain situations we should get expulsions, which did not happen. It resulted in less momentum in our direction. But I still think we show strength in the third period and stay in the game and find a little bit of our identity as a team. Considering how we start the match. That’s how we have to play over 60 minutes to be an effective team and a tough team to play against,” said Kylington.

He puts his finger on what he thinks Djurgården needs to work on:

– That’s it, these momentum shifts during a match, trying to find back to what works and not letting things drag on.

With his arrival, Oliver Kylington has given Djurgården additional stability in defense and in the game with the puck. He sounds satisfied himself.

– I think I have grown all the time.

Taking steps forward

Or how?

– What do you think? Yes, you think it’s good and I think it’s good myself. It feels better and better with time. The first three, four, five games maybe it was very new. Lots of customization. Things to land in. But at the same time it feels like over time it’s just gotten better and better and I’ve just tried to stick to the game I know best.

Kylington looks extremely comfortable thanks to his grandiose skating.

– Timing, getting to know your teammates, and the pace of the game has just come more and more naturally to me during my time here. I think it has felt better and better as time has gone on. It’s just a matter of continuing and building on and not being satisfied.

Kylington pauses in the reasoning and underlines:

– I am also not the kind of player who is comfortable, but puts a lot of pressure on myself and wants us to be a good hockey team and for me to maintain a high minimum level. So far, it has felt very good and continue to stick to the routines I know best and build on. All in all, good.

Praise DIF’s JVM player

Both Anton Frondell (1–0) and Viggo Björck (3–2 on penalties) scored in their last game in the SHL before the JVM. And Kylington breaks into a smile when the young players speak.

– I don’t say much, hehe. They are great guys both with great energy and skilled hockey players and good people. They have a fun time ahead of them with the hockey and JVM, a fun challenge. They have played well all autumn and must bring that to the national team and continue to stick to games and it will be good.

Kylington himself played JVM 2017/2017 with players such as Filip Gustavsson, Rasmus Dahlin, Joel Eriksson Ek and Elias Pettersson.

He continues about Björck, Eklund and Frondell:

– I think it will give an injection to the Swedish national team considering that they have played senior hockey all autumn. They look great! They will have a fun time ahead and hopefully come home with a gold.

Careful about the future

Djurgården’s sporting management is reviewing the squad for the upcoming season and Oliver Kylington has an expiring contract as he only signed for this season.

But he says he doesn’t think about that part yet.

– No, absolutely not. I am here and now. I’m thinking about this season. We’ll see what happens when this season is over. I’m here and now and just want us to establish ourselves in playoff position and then a new journey begins here. I don’t think far ahead at all. I am here and now and want us to win games and yes, be as “present” as possible.