Kings News: Byfield signs 5 year, $6.25M per extension

[King'sPawn]

I would still take Byfield over Stutzle. In fact, I would've taken Byfield 1OA.

Me too. Fell in love with him when watching him the year before the draft.

Byfield was the right move back then and hopefully is starting to show that right now. I’m not a Blake fan but I remember that near the draft Quinton was clear cut #2 almost everywhere because of his potential, with some people saying that he could be the best player out of this draft.

There were certainly debates. I remember one guide had Byfield 6th.

There were certainly a few scouts who said they'd pick Byfield first, but his average ranking was lower than Lafreniere and Stutzle.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I would still take Byfield over Stutzle. In fact, I would've taken Byfield 1OA.

I honestly hope you’re right.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

 

[AnThGrt]

Byfield was the right move back then and hopefully is starting to show that right now. I’m not a Blake fan but I remember that near the draft Quinton was clear cut #2 almost everywhere because of his potential, with some people saying that he could be the best player out of this draft.

Stützle was literally ranked #2 on McKenzie´s final rankings list Lafreniere the surest thing in a most uncertain draft year - TSN.ca

I liked Byfield and wanted him, but come draft day Stützle was higher on consolidated ranking lists. We can also, be homers here and I would right now unlikely trade Byfield for any of them yet if based on the player right now and first several years Raymond, Stützle, Jarvis, and Sanderson all get 100% drafted before him.

 

[Herby]

Stützle was literally ranked #2 on McKenzie´s final rankings list Lafreniere the surest thing in a most uncertain draft year - TSN.ca

I liked Byfield and wanted him, but come draft day Stützle was higher on consolidated ranking lists. We can also, be homers here and I would right now unlikely trade Byfield for any of them yet if based on the player right now and first several years Raymond, Stützle, Jarvis, and Sanderson all get 100% drafted before him.

Good post, there certainly was no consensus as he said, it was very heavily debated here.

I think there are some odd feelings towards Stutzle on this forum that still linger from the draft debates and maybe because of how many Ottawa fans have acted.

People say he is maxed out, but he has produced seasons of 90 points at age 20/21 and this season projected to be at 85 points at 22/23. If he is a perennial 85-95 point C it's going to be difficult for anybody from that draft to top him (whether it's Byfield, Raymond, Johnston)

And age is still the #1 indicator of potential, and he is the same birth year as almost everyone else from that draft.

 

[BigKing]

Good post, there certainly was no consensus as he said, it was very heavily debated here.

I think there are some odd feelings towards Stutzle on this forum that still linger from the draft debates and maybe because of how many Ottawa fans have acted.

People say he is maxed out, but he has produced seasons of 90 points at age 20/21 and this season projected to be at 85 points at 22/23. If he is a perennial 85-95 point C it's going to be difficult for anybody from that draft to top him (whether it's Byfield, Raymond, Johnston)

And age is still the #1 indicator of potential, and he is the same birth year as almost everyone else from that draft.

And Byfield barely made the age cutoff for that draft, right?

Felt like he was going to be a monster this year coming out of camp but then more of the same production wise. Kings desperately need this to not be just a hot streak.

Of course, it starts to finally happen once 11 falls off a cliff when Blake's whole plan required them to both be high producers at the same time.

 

[NikF]

He's got next season and possibly the one after that to prove that he can become that consistent top of the line performer. It can't turn to be just a hot streak followed by more inconsistencies. After 25 it will be pretty tough to have a major offensive revelation even for a big toolsy guy, I think most of them figure it out by 25 at latest.

 

[bland]

You don’t pick long term project centers with a #2 overall pick. Byfield is in his D+5 season. He is who he is at this point. He’ll continue to put together some insane stretches and then disappear.

Let’s also not forget the fact that Blake and co. have never wanted to do a true rebuild. They were trying to get back to the playoffs as soon as possible. Stutzle’s whole scouting report at the time was that he was a day one NHL ready talent.

Nothing about the Byfield pick makes sense in hindsight. But that’s just more evidence for Blake’s total incompetence and lack of any real plan or vision for the team. Everything he does is blunted and obtuse and focused only on solving whatever problem is right in front of him.

I still say Byfield is right on schedule. 23 was the age I always had pegged for him to reach physical maturity and break out. Sure looks like he is finding that and in the position he needed to be in.

I get the cynicism, the lack of faith in this regime, its all totally reasonable given the near decade long era of futility, but people do need to start noticing that things changed last summer and so many of the things that needed to happen are happening in front of our rolling eyes. Its not what it could or should have been, but it is finally here.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Good post, there certainly was no consensus as he said, it was very heavily debated here.

I think there are some odd feelings towards Stutzle on this forum that still linger from the draft debates and maybe because of how many Ottawa fans have acted.

People say he is maxed out, but he has produced seasons of 90 points at age 20/21 and this season projected to be at 85 points at 22/23. If he is a perennial 85-95 point C it's going to be difficult for anybody from that draft to top him (whether it's Byfield, Raymond, Johnston)

And age is still the #1 indicator of potential, and he is the same birth year as almost everyone else from that draft.

I dunno man, even I thought Stutzle was pulling away. But if he settles in at 85-95 points and byfield can find consistency in what he's done since February 1st--a PPG player who is absolutely dominant in two-way play against the top-Cs and on the PK (while getting next to no PP opportunity/without a functional PP)--it's a no brainer pick.

I don't think Stutzle is done growing either though. But he's clearly the more dynamic offensive threat. But Byfield is currently the FAR superior matchup C.

 

[johnjm22]

And Byfield barely made the age cutoff for that draft, right?

Yes. Not only is he younger than most players drafted that year, but he's also played fewer games:

Lafreniere 363GP
Stutzle 349GP
Raymond 302GP
Byfield 242GP

^I think people forget this. We're talking about a season worth of games fewer for QB.

100+ game difference between Stutzle and Byfield is wild. And Stutzle is 23. Lafreneire has been 23 since October last year.

 

[Trash Panda]

I dunno man, even I thought Stutzle was pulling away. But if he settles in at 85-95 points and byfield can find consistency in what he's done since February 1st--a PPG player who is absolutely dominant in two-way play against the top-Cs and on the PK (while getting next to no PP opportunity/without a functional PP)--it's a no brainer pick.

I don't think Stutzle is done growing either though. But he's clearly the more dynamic offensive threat. But Byfield is currently the FAR superior matchup C.

Having the wingspan of 747 and the speed of an F-22 was always gonna be a nasty combo if he could figure it out.

Hopefully this is the permanent step forward that the organization has been desperately waiting for, because he has been lights out lately.

A 6’5” matchup center that scores at a PPG pace would be an incredible get just as the wheels finally come off of Kopitar.

 

[johnjm22]

people do need to start noticing that things changed last summer and so many of the things that needed to happen are happening in front of our rolling eyes.

What changed?

The reason why also matters.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

In addition to the slowly coming around with Byfield shifting back to center, his progression as a relied upon penalty killer is an area of his game that is really rounding him out, and hopefully signs that he'll soon be the #1 center on this team.

Byfield is averaging the highest ice-time in his career thus far, but one area that will no doubt need to get better are his faceoff numbers. He's currently at 43% in winning draws.

 

[bland]

What changed?

The reason why also matters.

What changes?


The 1-3-1 was set on fire.


Veteran role players were brought in to solidify the specific areas in which the Kings were insufficient instead of plug-in offensive players that would block the paths of the homegrown prospects.

Dubois was dumped for a contributing player.

The first round pick was retained.

Byfield was converted to his proper position.

Kids - Laferriere and Turcotte - were given first line and/or PP duties.

Two young offensive defensemen were given their opportunities to be full time performers.

Moverare was brought up on merit.

Helenius and Lee were given solid looks as 4th line options.

All are positive actions that would not have been made at any time over the past four years.

 

[FSL KINGS]

This is absolutely untrue. Stutzle vs Byfield was a very real debate before and during the draft.

And now it’s not a debate at all.

You're right, not a debate at all.
100% Byfield now.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Thought it might be interesting to have AI dive into a redraft of 2020

Based on analyses from hockey writers like Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman of The Athletic, as well as fan discussions and performance data, here’s a likely consensus top 10 for a 2020 redraft, focusing on current NHL impact and trajectory:

1. Tim Stützle (originally 3rd, Ottawa Senators)
   • Why? Stützle has emerged as the standout star of the class. As of the 2024-25 season, he’s a dynamic, point-per-game center with exceptional speed and skill. His 90-point season in 2022-23 and consistent top-six production make him the clear No. 1 in hindsight. Analysts like Pronman (October 2022 and October 2023) and Wheeler (July 2023) both rank him atop the class, citing his ability to drive play and compete at an elite level.
2. Jake Sanderson (originally 5th, Ottawa Senators)
   • Why? Sanderson’s rise as a premier two-way defenseman has been remarkable. His skating, defensive reliability, and growing offensive contribution (e.g., 32 points in 79 games in 2023-24) make him a cornerstone player. Wheeler’s 2023 redraft placed him 2nd, and fan sentiment on platforms like X echoes this, often highlighting his shutdown ability and potential as a top-pairing blueliner.
3. Lucas Raymond (originally 4th, Detroit Red Wings)
   • Why? Raymond has solidified himself as a top-six winger with high-end scoring ability. His 71-point season in 2023-24 (23 goals, 48 assists) shows he’s trending toward 70+ points annually. Both Wheeler and Pronman consistently rank him in the top five, with Wheeler placing him 3rd in 2023, reflecting his offensive consistency and upside.
4. Quinton Byfield (originally 2nd, Los Angeles Kings)
   • Why? After a slower start, Byfield broke out in 2023-24 with 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) in 80 games, leveraging his size (6’5”) and skating. His potential as a power forward keeps him high, though his development lag behind Stützle and Raymond drops him to 4th in most reimaginings. Pronman had him 9th in 2023, but recent performance suggests a higher consensus spot.
5. Alexis Lafreniere (originally 1st, New York Rangers)
   • Why? Lafreniere’s 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 2023-24 mark a breakout, but his earlier struggles and lack of elite production compared to Stützle or Raymond push him down. Still, his skill and playoff performance (e.g., 8 points in 16 games in 2024) keep him top five. Pronman ranked him 8th in 2023, but Wheeler’s 2023 honorable mention and fan sentiment suggest he’s still valued highly.

 

[Brownie to Pancakes]

There's never been anything interesting about AI

 

[AbsentMojo]

There's never been anything interesting about AI

I personally had Raymond above QB up until recently where now that is in doubt.. still havent seen enough consistency from QB - but looking hopeful. Sanderson, thats an interesting take - he does continue to improve under the radar mostly.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Here's elite prospects redraft .. looks more rational to me (has Faber up at 5 which should pls some on this forum)

2020 NHL Redraft Top 10 Ranking - Elite Prospects

User submitted ranking at Eliteprospects.com - 2020 NHL Redraft Top 10 Ranking

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[AbsentMojo]

There's never been anything interesting about AI

It is interesting but I dont think of it as intelligent - because it isnt.. its just trained on a bunch of web data like a search engine except it does build some semantic understanding of the query and the data, where search engines are just matching text... so to me its just a different type of search engine

 

[tigermask48]

As far as the Frolov comp goes, as a 21 year old Fro was putting up 48 points on a weaker roster with arguably weaker linemates in more clutch and grab league. I get QB brings other things to the table, but I also don't know that we have the fancy stats to look at when it comes to Frolov.

 

[King'sPawn]

And Byfield barely made the age cutoff for that draft, right?

A little less than a month. Byfield was born Aug 19. So not "days" from being in the next draft class, but 7 months younger than Stutzle and 10 months younger than Lafreniere.

I obviously don't have the entire 2020 draft class memorized, but Byfield was definitely one of the youngest.

Cut off is September 15 and later. JAD for example was the youngest in his draft class, born Sept 12.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

You're right, not a debate at all.
100% Byfield now.

In opposite land, sure.

To be charitable to Byfield, there’s a chance he may still become a better overall player, but right now he’s nowhere close to Stutzle.

At some point we have to judge these players on what they’re actually doing instead of conjecturing about what could or would or should happen in some unfalsifiable future.