C Quinton Byfield (2020, 2nd, LAK) part IV

[Schmooley]

Have you guys commenting watched dustin brown play this year?
Its like if you took a walk and picked up the biggest rock you could find. Dressed it up in a Kings uniform and put it on skates and dropped it on the ice for a regular NHL shift and first powerplay unit. If he touches the puck and doesnt immediately turn it over it was a good shift. Some games he doesnt even move his feet.

 

[Herby]

Have you guys commenting watched dustin brown play this year?
Its like if you took a walk and picked up the biggest rock you could find. Dressed it up in a Kings uniform and put it on skates and dropped it on the ice for a regular NHL shift and first powerplay unit. If he touches the puck and doesnt immediately turn it over it was a good shift. Some games he doesnt even move his feet.

Brown has been terrible and should not be in the NHL beyond this year. Byfield has been very underwhelming so far and looks to be a long way away.

Both things can be true.

I'd still like to see the Kings continue to let Byfield figure things out at the NHL level, especially since it doesn't seem like he gained much at all from his season in the AHL last year. I think part of the problem is confidence, to steal a line from ex-Kings assistant Jamie Kompon he needs a "Greasy goal". The defensive warts will get better with experience, the offensive issues you'd like to see improve sooner than later.

 

[driller1]

Have you guys commenting watched dustin brown play this year?
Its like if you took a walk and picked up the biggest rock you could find. Dressed it up in a Kings uniform and put it on skates and dropped it on the ice for a regular NHL shift and first powerplay unit. If he touches the puck and doesnt immediately turn it over it was a good shift. Some games he doesnt even move his feet.

It's amazing that rocks can score 21 pts in 48 games. No hyperbole in this whatsoever. None.

 

[Schmooley]

It's amazing that rocks can score 21 pts in 48 games. No hyperbole in this whatsoever. None.

I know its amazing thats the Kings best player.

 

[Schmooley]

Brown has been terrible and should not be in the NHL beyond this year. Byfield has been very underwhelming so far and looks to be a long way away.

Both things can be true.

I'd still like to see the Kings continue to let Byfield figure things out at the NHL level, especially since it doesn't seem like he gained much at all from his season in the AHL last year. I think part of the problem is confidence, to steal a line from ex-Kings assistant Jamie Kompon he needs a "Greasy goal". The defensive warts will get better with experience, the offensive issues you'd like to see improve sooner than later.

I dont think Browns play is related to Byfield as much since most of us have been complaining about his play since training camp.
I agree Byfield needs work. And I also agree he should be in the NHL. But not with Brown or Athanasiou. They had two solid games together and the rest have been a circus

 

[tomd]

Brown has been terrible and should not be in the NHL beyond this year. Byfield has been very underwhelming so far and looks to be a long way away.

Both things can be true.

I'd still like to see the Kings continue to let Byfield figure things out at the NHL level, especially since it doesn't seem like he gained much at all from his season in the AHL last year. I think part of the problem is confidence, to steal a line from ex-Kings assistant Jamie Kompon he needs a "Greasy goal". The defensive warts will get better with experience, the offensive issues you'd like to see improve sooner than later.

It would be interesting to know how Brown and AA feel about playing with Byfield. I suspect they would prefer to play with a real NHL center themselves.

 

[Fatass]

Sometimes teams make mistakes, even when picking high. Byfield is young, but (as of right now) it looks like the Kings made a mistake in selecting him. He is young though, so things can change. And he's a very big guy. And these bigger guys often take longer than the smaller guys to get going. Didn't Draisatl struggle at first too? I think he was sent back to junior, right?

 

[Herby]

It would be interesting to know how Brown and AA feel about playing with Byfield. I suspect they would prefer to play with a real NHL center themselves.

I think all three should be thankful to be in the NHL right now. I get the feeling you are placing most of the blame on that line on QB, and I don't think that is fair (just as I don't think it's fair that many place none of it on him). All of them have been pretty bad.

Sometimes teams make mistakes, even when picking high. Byfield is young, but (as of right now) it looks like the Kings made a mistake in selecting him. He is young though, so things can change. And he's a very big guy. And these bigger guys often take longer than the smaller guys to get going. Didn't Draisatl struggle at first too? I think he was sent back to junior, right?

To early to say the Kings definitively made a mistake, but it certainly is tough to see the Kings still struggling to score goals and the two players immediately taken after him are both on pace for 20+ goals. One of the benefits of taking a player that high is usually the immediate return, which the Kings certainly have not gotten while other teams have. But I would still wait until this time next season to see where he is at before saying they made the wrong pick.

 

[LAKings88]

I have seen QB make a few next level moves.

Guy is extremely young and raw. Gets no PP time and limited minutes on a line that has bad chemistry. I don’t know what he will be but the raw tools are there. Time is just gonna have to tell.

 

[kilowatt]

I think all three should be thankful to be in the NHL right now. I get the feeling you are placing most of the blame on that line on QB, and I don't think that is fair (just as I don't think it's fair that many place none of it on him). All of them have been pretty bad.

I agree, all three have been pretty bad. In a different context though, if I hired someone new at my work, I wouldn't expect them to be pulling the weight of some of the more experienced members on my team.

Byfield's really only played with Brown, Grundstrom, and Athanasiou. But when we look at line combos for some of our other forwards, an interesting pattern emerges:

1. Kopitar's worst advanced stats are when he's paired with Brown
2. Danault's worst advanced stats are when he's paired with Athanasiou
3. Kempe's worst advanced stats are when he's paired with Brown
4. Iafallo's worst advanced stats are when he's paired with Athanasiou
5. Arvidsson's worst advanced stats are when he's paired with Brown

It would be interesting to know how Brown and AA feel about playing with Byfield. I suspect they would prefer to play with a real NHL center themselves.

So, given the above context, I wonder how guys like Kopitar, Danault, Kempe, Iafallo, and Arvidsson feel when they have to play with Brown or Athanasiou?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You know the dishonesty level is high when a forum that has spent 15 years shit talking Dustin Brown is running to his defense.

 

[tomd]

I think all three should be thankful to be in the NHL right now. I get the feeling you are placing most of the blame on that line on QB, and I don't think that is fair (just as I don't think it's fair that many place none of it on him). All of them have been pretty bad.

Not really on the bolded...just trying to balance the discussion against the poster who is blaming ALL of the line's troubles on Brown and AA. That's just a really bad take. QB must be very difficult to play with at this stage of his career given that he is constantly out of position and a disaster in the defensive zone. It's a dysfunctional line that Blake will have to address at the TDL if he wants to ensure that the Kings make the playoffs. Right now they have about 1 1/2 lines working and if the Denault line goes cold the team is in serious trouble.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

It would be interesting to know how Brown and AA feel about playing with Byfield. I suspect they would prefer to play with a real NHL center themselves.

Maybe they should try acting the part themselves.

One's had 20 years to figure it out. The other has had 10. Yet all the blame is falling at the feet of the teenager.

 

[bsu]

Maybe they should try acting the part themselves.

One's had 20 years to figure it out. The other has had 10. Yet all the blame is falling at the feet of the teenager.

No one is blaming a teenager for anything, we are talking about how he is not ready for the NHL. He is overmatched defensively (Zegras also has some minor issues in that zone) and has 1 point on the season.

 

[Schmooley]

Not really on the bolded...just trying to balance the discussion against the poster who is blaming ALL of the line's troubles on Brown and AA. That's just a really bad take. QB must be very difficult to play with at this stage of his career given that he is constantly out of position and a disaster in the defensive zone. It's a dysfunctional line that Blake will have to address at the TDL if he wants to ensure that the Kings make the playoffs. Right now they have about 1 1/2 lines working and if the Denault line goes cold the team is in serious trouble.

Nah they have 2 good lines with both Danaults and Lizottes. Kopitars line can be better but its still ok. The third line has been bad all year no matter whos been on it. Byfield isnt as bad as you are making it seem in his own zone. Hes learning a 200 foot game from Kopitar and its gonna take time. Its more bad lapses here and there than just downright bad every shift. That plus his wingers not being able to to give and receive passes to breakout which is why those two and Byfield are a bad combo. They wouldnt be where they are in the standings with 1 good line you know that much.

 

[Herby]

Not really on the bolded...just trying to balance the discussion against the poster who is blaming ALL of the line's troubles on Brown and AA. That's just a really bad take. QB must be very difficult to play with at this stage of his career given that he is constantly out of position and a disaster in the defensive zone. It's a dysfunctional line that Blake will have to address at the TDL if he wants to ensure that the Kings make the playoffs. Right now they have about 1 1/2 lines working and if the Denault line goes cold the team is in serious trouble.

Yes, you are correct, the people pretending like Byfield is Malkin centering Ivanans and Zeiler are out to lunch, but I think your post is as well, don't overcompensate one bad take by making another bad take. Byfield has not been helped at all playing with those guys, just as he has not helped them. It's three guys that at this point look like fringe NHL'ers. And yes I know Brown is on pace for 40 points, doesn't mean he looks the part, Mike Richards had 40 points in 2014 and was probably the worst player on the Kings that year.

 

[tomd]

Yes, you are correct, the people pretending like Byfield is Malkin centering Ivanans and Zeiler are out to lunch, but I think your post is as well, don't overcompensate one bad take by making another bad take. Byfield has not been helped at all playing with those guys, just as he has not helped them. It's three guys that at this point look like fringe NHL'ers. And yes I know Brown is on pace for 40 points, doesn't mean he looks the part, Mike Richards had 40 points in 2014 and was probably the worst player on the Kings that year.

Well, in fairness, I did say that the entire line was dysfunctional. I don't think any of them enjoy playing with each other and it shows.

 

[Akrapovince]

Given the information posted by what I assume are knowledgeable Kings fans, it seems like Brown and AA are common denominators for terrible line combinations, regardless of who is anchoring between them.

Like another poster said, if Danault & Kopitar aren’t able to make up for the deficiencies in Brown & AA’s game- I think it’s rather unfair to expect a rookie to be able to.

Maybe Brown and Byfield playing well as a singular pair is just a testament to the potential that Byfield has, lugging around that boat anchor. God forbid the rookie not being good enough to carry around two boat anchors.

I’m not saying whether or not Byfield deserves a cup of coffee in the national league at this current juncture in his development, but using his sample size with Brown & AA to prove anything is rather silly.

I will concede, regardless of linemates, you expect a 2OA to at least produce more than a singular point and show flashes of things individually. Which maybe he has, but it’s more than likely he’s tailoring his game to not get completely get caved in out there with the linemates he has.

There’s way too much working against this kid. It might not be a question of does he deserve to be in the national league, but maybe can the Kings provide proper development for him while he’s a pro. Zero power play time, zero insulation, barely any ice time, not sure what his match ups are but man, I get it’s just the current situation the Kings are in that puts him in this situation, but for example I wonder how Byfield would do on Ottawa between Paul & Brown and working PP1.

 

[bland]

Its the Loose Change line. Athanasiou plays as a one man band, Brown has aged out into what is essentially a mascot role, and the 19 year old rookie who everybody knows is a few years away from growing into his frame are all playing together because there is nowhere else for them to go.

Its a wasted opportunity for a kid line who can throw out 9-10 minutes of sheltered enthusiasm as they grow into the league in favor of a couple of vets blocking them out because of a playoff chase.

 

[Samsquanch]

Can any LA fans explain whats going on with player development over there?

Seems like all of their best prospects are struggling badly in the NHL? Byfield, Vilardi, Kaliyev, Bjornfoot, Anderson. Turcotte is getting lapped by Zegras and others from his draft (but still seems to be doing well in the minors fwiw). But the problem definitely doesnt seem like its with the Reign, seems like somethings rotten up top. No?

 

[bsu]

He'll probably score a hat trick tonight against Anaheim and shut us all up for 5 or 6 games.

 

[driller1]

I know its amazing thats the Kings best player.

Now you’re just being an ass.

No one thinks Brown is a first liner anymore (or even a 2nd liner) but the hyperbole being thrown around is ridiculous.

 

[Schmooley]

Now you’re just being an ass.

No one thinks Brown is a first liner anymore (or even a 2nd liner) but the hyperbole being thrown around is ridiculous.

Yea i was being an ass didnt think id hurt your feelings sorry!

 

[bsu]

He'll probably score a hat trick tonight against Anaheim and shut us all up for 5 or 6 games.

Edit: Make that a Gordie Howe

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

LMAO

Not even 10 minutes in.

I'll take apologies in beers, thanks.

Tell me you don't see an instant difference with the change in lines and I'll show you a liar.