LA Kings Training Camp Preview: Quinton Byfield

With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Quinton Byfield!

Quinton Byfield

Birthdate: August 19, 2002

Birthplace: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

Height: 6’5

Weight: 216 lbs

Position: Center/wing

Shoots: Left

Draft: First round, 2nd overall, 2020 NHL Entry Draft

2022-2023 season

At the start of the season, Quinton Byfield was projected to be the LA Kings’ third-line center, as he was the previous season before a fractured ankle. Through the season’s first eight games, Byfield centered the third line with Alex Iafallo and Gabriel Vilardi as his wingers and registered three assists. Unfortunately, Byfield missed the next two weeks due to an illness that made him lose weight. On November 10th, Byfield started his conditioning assignment with Ontario Reign in the AHL, a game he went scoreless in a Reign 4-3 shootout loss.

During his conditioning assignment, Byfield played on Ontario’s top line with Tyler Madden and Alex Turcotte. In 16 games, Byfield recorded nine goals and six assists. On December 27th, he was recalled to the LA Kings and logged 8:54 of ice time. The following game in Colorado saw a noticeable lineup change in the third period as the Kings trailed 4-2 on the road. That lineup change was Byfield being moved up to the first line with Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar. Byfield stood on that line for the rest of the season as we saw flashes of potential (playmaking) and things he needed to work on (shooting).

Quinton Byfield goes between the legs. pic.twitter.com/Yt9bmSkzRa

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) November 28, 2022

2023-2024 outlook

Byfield is expected to be back on the first line with Kempe and Kopitar again. Being given bottom-six minutes in his rookie year and starting last year, Byfield will be getting a look at the top line for a full season. The addition of Pierre-Luc Dubois will allow Byfield to continue developing, with the hope of him being the center they envision him to be someday. While the 21-year-old will be playing with a future Hall of Famer and a 40-goal scorer, I would like to see him not differ too much and be more aggressive.

Like Arthur Kaliyev, this is a big season for Byfield. Being the former second-overall pick from the 2020 draft comes with big expectations. What are those expectations? Ten goals? At least 40 points? Whatever it may be, Byfield will have to show something, even if it’s baby steps. Projected to be playing on the top line for a full season I say at least 40 points (he had 22 points last season) is doable, even if a majority of those points are assists. What are your expectations for the second-overall pick from the 2020 draft?

Featured image credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images