Quinton Byfield: Now Deemed Expendable By Kings?
When the LA Kings traded for Pierre-Luc Dubois, I could only think of one person. By the title, I’m sure you can guess who we’re talking about. Is Quinton Byfield now expendable in Los Angeles? Does Byfield have a future with the Kings?
I think it’s really fair to start pondering that question. We already know how half the story is going to go. The teams that passed on Tim Stützle in the 2020 NHL Draft will live to regret it. Yeah, I’m talking about you Rangers and Kings. Except, there isn’t anything you can do about that part at this point other than building a time machine.
Byfield, 20, is a natural center that has been bumped off that spot entirely. If Byfield is going to make it in LA, it’s going to have to be as a left winger. Byfield will likely skate with Anže Kopitar and Adrian Kempe heading into next season. Thus far Byfield hasn’t done anything to really inspire confidence posting a meager 22 points in 53 games. Three of those are goals and it’s been a lot of deer in the headlight moments. It’s officially go time or we’re going to have to start questioning his future.
These things catch up on you quickly. Byfield needs to be paid after next season. Does anybody have any idea what that number looks like? How do you go about paying that guy? We’re talking about the second overall pick after all. We’re also talking about a guy that’s done nothing while Stützle looks like a damn future icon. We’re also talking about a team that’s sort of all in and are pressed right up against the cap.
If Byfield ever wants to return to center, it’s going to have to be well into the future. LA is strong down the middle with Kopitar, Dubois, and Danault. What LA really needs is more of a scoring punch from someone that’s not named Adrian Kempe. Can someone put the puck in the back of the net? Byfield can’t just be a limp dog on the ice. He has to go prove his part. Not down the line… right now.
The pressure is on. That’s the thing about these first round picks in the NHL. More of them suck than anybody is willing to admit and the ones that pan out down the road are found by contending teams that provided them the correct opportunities. It’s the same cycle over and over again. I need more than just sizzle on my steak. Go prove you’re the steak, Byfield or you’re going to be out of there before you know it. That’s just the truth.
