LA Kings: Quinton Byfield among early favorites for 2022 Calder Trophy

With the expectation of seeing a fair amount of NHL time this season, LA Kings Quinton Byfield is among the early favorites for the Calder Trophy.

In what figures to be a big year developmentally for Quinton Byfield, the LA Kings 2020 second overall pick played in just six NHL games last year – the maximum allowable without starting the clock on his entry-level contract. Now in year two of professional hockey, there’s a growing sense of optimism that the Newmarket, Ontario, native will play meaningful minutes at the NHL level.

And according to Odds Shark, via Bovada, Byfield has a +1600 money line to win the 2022 Calder Trophy. Anyone have a spare $100?

Odds to win the 2022 Calder Trophy: (Bovada)

Cole Caufield +115
Lucas Raymond +225
Vasily Podkolzin +400
Nick Robertson +400
Moritz Seider +1200
Quinton Byfield +1600
Trevor Zegras +2000
Jamie Drysdale +2000#NHLTwitter #NHL #Hockey #gamblingtwitter #sportsbetting

— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) August 11, 2021

Byfield collected just one assist in his cup of coffee at the NHL level toward the end of the 2021 regular season. Allowed to play with the Ontario Reign last season, the 18-year-old accumulated eight goals and 12 assists in 32 games. After a slow start to the year, Byfield picked up steam, scoring goals in five straight games in mid-March.

If you recall, Gabe Vilardi was an early favorite for the 2021 award, later won by Kirill Kaprizov, with 27 goals and 24 assists in 55 games.

Byfield will be up against some stiff competition. (Stats from 2020-21 season)

Cole Caufield (MTL)

• University of Wisconsin: 30 goals, 22 assists in 31 games
• Laval Rocket (AHL): 3 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
• Montreal Canadiens: 4 goals, 1 assist in 10 regular-season games, 4 goals, 8 assists in 20 playoff games

Lucas Raymond (DET)

• Frolunda (SHL): 6 goals, 12 assists in 34 games

Vasily Podkolzin (VAN)

• SKA St. Petersburg (KHL): 5 goals, 6 assists in 35 regular-season games, 6 goals, 5 assists in 16 playoff games
• SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL): 0 goals, 1 assist in 1 game

Nick Robertson (TOR)

• Toronto Marlies (AHL): 5 goals, 11 assists in 21 games
• Toronto Maple Leafs: 0 goals, 1 assist in 6 games

Moritz Seider (DET)

• Rögle BK (SHL): 7 goals, 21 assists in 41 games

Trevor Zegras (ANA)

• San Diego Gulls (AHL): 10 goals, 11 assists in 17 regular-season games, 1 goal, 2 assists in 3 playoff games
• Anaheim Ducks: 3 goals, 10 assists in 17 games

Jamie Drysdale (ANA)

• San Diego Gulls (AHL): 4 goals, 6 assists in 14 regular-season games, 0 goals, 2 assists in 3 playoff games
• Anaheim Ducks: 3 goals, 5 assists in 24 games

LA Kings Earn Themselves an ‘A’ in NHL Free Agency, Per ESPN