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

[hotcabbagesoup]

Yikes, that shootout attempt by Byfield was ugly. Surprised he doesn't switch to a longer stick for those situations.

 

[Schmooley]

God bless him. He barely touched the puck (I'm not 100% sure he did), but it's enough for his 2nd assist of the season. Things are looking UP !!!!

In his defense, he touched more of the puck on this assist than he did on his last goal.

Whats your problem?

 

[ORRFForever]

Yikes, that shootout attempt by Byfield was ugly. Surprised he doesn't switch to a longer stick for those situations.

I'm hoping, 5 years from now, we can look back, laugh and say, "Can you believe how GREAT a player Byfield has become after such a horrific start?"

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

I'm hoping, 5 years from now, we can look back, laugh and say, "Can you believe how great a player he has become after such a horrific start?"

Actually, I thought his shootout attempt started pretty good. He created deception with his skates shuffling to the left and then he leans into the puck to shoot it and it was like the puck wanted to get away and the short stick couldn't hang onto it. He needs to watch the film and adjust. Maybe even watch film of his practices.

 

[ORRFForever]

Actually, I thought his shootout attempt started pretty good. He created deception with his skates shuffling to the left and then he leans into the puck to shoot it and it was like the puck wanted to get away and the short stick couldn't hang onto it. He needs to watch the film and adjust. Maybe even watch film of his practices.

Whatever it takes.

As I have said before, we've been following him for so long, it's easy to forget he is 19.

 

[Osprey]

He had a fairly rough game. I counted 4 turnovers and he just looked sloppy. The shootout attempt sort of summed up his night.

What struck me is how much more NHL ready Vilardi looked. That's not surprising if you consider that he's 3 years older, but he's the one who's spent most of the season in the AHL, while Byfield has been in the NHL. It seems like it should've been the other way around.

 

[bsu]

He needs a longer stick.... straight up. Looks ridiculous with that stick and fumbles so many pucks.

 

[ORRFForever]

The Kings should send the kid to the AHL and tell him he's playing at the World Juniors in August. What he's going thru now cannot be good for his game/confidence.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

knocking a players stick choice because it’s short is an odd way of criticism

 

[Sensinitis]

He needs a longer stick.... straight up. Looks ridiculous with that stick and fumbles so many pucks.

The issue is that a shorter stick increases puck handling, not the opposite

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The issue is that a shorter stick increases puck handling, not the opposite

Most will agree but it is short short. We're not talking about the difference between chin and top of chest, it appears his stick is bottom-rib high, hence the hunch-over.

 

[bsu]

The issue is that a shorter stick increases puck handling, not the opposite

That's not true when you have to hunch over and basically hold the stick almost down to your knees. So if what you're saying is true everyone would be skating around with 1 foot sticks. It all depends on the player and in Byfields case it just looks awkward and not smooth at all.

 

[tomd]

It seems that skating hunched over with the shorter stick actually makes him play like a 6' player instead of the 6'5" that he actually is.

 

[Sensinitis]

That's not true when you have to hunch over and basically hold the stick almost down to your knees. So if what you're saying is true everyone would be skating around with 1 foot sticks. It all depends on the player and in Byfields case it just looks awkward and not smooth at all.

Often times tall forwards like Byfield use shorter sticks exactly for that reason, because it forces them to hunch over and assume a more crouched position with the knees bent. That way, they don’t skate upright which is a natural tendency for taller guys and not ideal at all

 

[bsu]

Often times tall forwards like Byfield use shorter sticks exactly for that reason, because it forces them to hunch over and assume a more crouched position with the knees bent. That way, they don’t skate upright which is a natural tendency for taller guys and not ideal at all

Okay but you know there's a huge space in the middle between skating hunched like he does and skating upright?

 

[Sensinitis]

Okay but you know there's a huge space in the middle between skating hunched like he does and skating upright?

Listen I’m not saying he shouldn’t make his stick longer, just explaining to you the reason behind it. It took Duchene years before he lengthened his stick and look at the numbers he’s posting this year. A player’s stick is his holy grail and very tough for a player to change style with it. Hopefully Byfield adds an inch or two and it makes a big difference

 

[bsu]

Listen I’m not saying he shouldn’t make his stick longer, just explaining to you the reason behind it. It took Duchene years before he lengthened his stick and look at the numbers he’s posting this year. A player’s stick is his holy grail and very tough for a player to change style with it. Hopefully Byfield adds an inch or two and it makes a big difference

All I am saying is no one can watch this video and think him skating like that is good for him. He is basically as low to the ground as Connor Garland... he should use his size to his advantage due to the fact he's such an explosive skater.

 

[ORRFForever]

All I am saying is no one can watch this video and think him skating like that is good for him. He is basically as low to the ground as Connor Garland... he should use his size to his advantage due to the fact he's such an explosive skater.

That is unpleasant to watch.

 

[Osprey]

All I am saying is no one can watch this video and think him skating like that is good for him. He is basically as low to the ground as Connor Garland... he should use his size to his advantage due to the fact he's such an explosive skater.

I didn't really understand what you all were talking about before. Now, I won't be able to un-see it. Thanks a lot.

 

[ORRFForever]

Byfield was doing well in the AHL - he started cold but he finished hot. He is 19. Send him down and let him have a full year in the AHL. What is the downside?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I didn't really understand what you all were talking about before. Now, I won't be able to un-see it. Thanks a lot.

You can even see it on the one that goes well--watch the replay front view--



I was guesstimating before that it was maybe a bottom-rib length stick but he finds a way to shorten it even further in shootouts/open ice by gripping further down


I seem to remember hearing/reading his AAA coach talking about how he hunched down on purpose because every time he'd hit someone he'd take a penalty for being too big but i can't find that now. I'm sure he got used to the smaller stick and got comfortable with it but it seems like a LOT of his problems stem from it...

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

All I am saying is no one can watch this video and think him skating like that is good for him. He is basically as low to the ground as Connor Garland... he should use his size to his advantage due to the fact he's such an explosive skater.

Typically I am a big advocate of shorter sticks for offensive playmakers, but Byfield could probably afford to lengthen his by ~1/2 to 1 inch.

Malkin used a pretty short stick earlier in his career (not sure if he lengthened it since but it looks like he may have), but still a bit longer than Byfield's:



Heavy possession playmakers like Forsberg, Crosby, and Backstrom all had really short sticks as well.

 

[bsu]

Saw this on the Kings board... this guy actually called some of his problems early on.....

How will Byfield answer The Question?

Navigating doubt on the path to greatness

jhanhky.substack.com

 

[ORRFForever]

A goal, a goal, my kingdom for a goal.

One of these days this kid is going to break out. One of these days.

 

[bsu]

Brutal tonight...I'm just going to assume that was one of his worst games a pro...