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

[RutherPlan]

He plays like total ass.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Serious question, do Kings fans think he should of been the one scratched tonight? You guys see him more than we do

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Serious question, do Kings fans think he should of been the one scratched tonight? You guys see him more than we do

I mean, if you're going to play the bottom six as just 'specialists', ie Kupari as a forechecker and PKer, might as well scratch Byfield, no?

What other team would take an offensive talent and try to make him play 5 minutes in a checking-only role and wonder why he's not effective?

The 'kid line' looked better when given an identity, even though it's still a complete waste of their talents. Can't lightning rod Byfield tonight though, watching Kopitar get rocked for the first 5 goals and 6 total, etc.

But ultimately if you're just going to give those guys 5 minutes it might as well be guys like Lemieux and Kupari et. al., just send him to the AHL already so he can at least play, they've wasted enough of his time and development this year just like they have all the other kids burying them.

 

[nbwingsfan]

I mean, if you're going to play the bottom six as just 'specialists', ie Kupari as a forechecker and PKer, might as well scratch Byfield, no?

What other team would take an offensive talent and try to make him play 5 minutes in a checking-only role and wonder why he's not effective?

The 'kid line' looked better when given an identity, even though it's still a complete waste of their talents. Can't lightning rod Byfield tonight though, watching Kopitar get rocked for the first 5 goals and 6 total, etc.

But ultimately if you're just going to give those guys 5 minutes it might as well be guys like Lemieux and Kupari et. al., just send him to the AHL already so he can at least play, they've wasted enough of his time and development this year just like they have all the other kids burying them.

That’s what I can’t seem to understand with what they’re doing. If you’re going to make a guy “learn” in the NHL by playing through the growing pains instead of learning the Pro game in the AHL, then why are they scratching him when he’s going through said growing pains instead of sending him down?

Really hoping LA doesn’t screw this one up because Team Canada needs a player like this to develop

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That’s what I can’t seem to understand with what they’re doing. If you’re going to make a guy “learn” in the NHL by playing through the growing pains instead of learning the Pro game in the NHL, then why are they scratching him when he’s going through said growing pains instead of sending him down?

Really hoping LA doesn’t screw this one up because Team Canada needs a player like this to develop

Your guess is as good as ours, my man.

Seems to be how they're treating every good prospect except the ones they're forced to play due to injury (dmen).

 

[ORRFForever]

That’s what I can’t seem to understand with what they’re doing. If you’re going to make a guy “learn” in the NHL by playing through the growing pains instead of learning the Pro game in the AHL, then why are they scratching him when he’s going through said growing pains instead of sending him down?

Really hoping LA doesn’t screw this one up because Team Canada needs a player like this to develop

I thought QB played well in Game 1 - IIRC.

They kid should be playing full time in the AHL.

 

[djscooter]

I've watched bits of pieces of Byfield this season and every time, I've come away thinking he looks good. So I am not seeing what other posters are seeing. He's faster than I thought he would be and has good hands. Give him time to adjust. The points will start coming.

You're watching the games, that is what you're doing differently.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

The immediate options seem to be:

(1) Play top-6 C, and get chewed up by McD or Drai.
(2) Play bottom-6 C in an unfamiliar role that LA hopes he never plays long-term.
(3) Scratch him - wtf?
(4) Play 1C in Ontario, and develop against peers.

It seems so easy from the outside sometimes. What am I missing?

 

[William H Bonney]

The immediate options seem to be:

(1) Play top-6 C, and get chewed up by McD or Drai.
(2) Play bottom-6 C in an unfamiliar role that LA hopes he never plays long-term.
(3) Scratch him - wtf?
(4) Play 1C in Ontario, and develop against peers.

It seems so easy from the outside sometimes. What am I missing?

It should have been #4 all along. Byfield didn't even really deserve a call up in the first place but I can understand wanting to get him a taste of the NHL. But after a handful of games, unless he made it impossible to send him down, he should have spent the whole season in the AHL. I'm not as bullish on Byfield as a lot of Kings fans, but even then, management hasn't done much right this year to set him up to be successful.

 

[bsu]

It should have been #4 all along. Byfield didn't even really deserve a call up in the first place but I can understand wanting to get him a taste of the NHL. But after a handful of games, unless he made it impossible to send him down, he should have spent the whole season in the AHL. I'm not as bullish on Byfield as a lot of Kings fans, but even then, management hasn't done much right this year to set him up to be successful.

Developing forwards seems to be an issue to be quite honest. Their defense has developed nicely for the most part though so they have that going for them.... another thing they have going for them is they have so many prospects they can afford for a couple to not pan out.

 

[ORRFForever]

The way they've handled QB makes NO sense.

 

[funky]

QB has a ton of future physical tools and skills to look forward to. The biggest issues I see is he has to learn how to use the strength and size he already possesses as well as learn how to get stronger. I am not talking bench press strength I am talking being strong on his stick, using his lower body strength to drive through people and not skip around them, to protect the puck etc. I am sure if QB went into the corners in a puck battle with Lizotte, the little ball of hate comes out with the puck 8 of 10 times. Just pure will power and knowing how to use his strength, edges etc.

I also think he has to get used to NHL speed and pace. This will come with experience and not the 5 minute a game or sitting on the bench experience. He is jumpy almost figits with the puck. Some days he looks like a flailing octopus with arms and legs everywhere. Slow it down, play with teammates and make smart plays. We definitely see the game slow down for him at times.

Put him in a position to succeed. Don’t give a crap if he is a #2 or a 152 pick. Masssive minutes in the AHL right now would be a better option then warming a bench. He suffered a broken ankle, Covid and missed a lot of development times in general with the whole pandemic thing. He was a raw player when drafted and we see the development coming. It will just take time. Watching Drai play us now vs his rookie year in Edmonton we see a totally different beast. Nothing saying QB can’t do the same.

 

[funky]

Double post

 

[Surf Nutz]

Still cant understand why the prospects were not sent to the Reigns last game.
In my mind it was just asinine.

 

[91Fedorov]

At what point, do people think, does QB get labeled a bust? And, are we close?

 

[Lavar Ball]

At what point, do people think, does QB get labeled a bust? And, are we close?

Not even remotely close. He hasn't even played a full season in the NHL

 

[91Fedorov]

Not even remotely close. He hasn't even played a full season in the NHL

But shouldn't he have?

 

[OKR]

At what point, do people think, does QB get labeled a bust? And, are we close?

No, he was drafted as a project so no one in their rightmind should expected him to be a NHL regular at this point.

 

[Random Comment]

QB was drafted as a raw player who needs time. None of this is shocking.

 

[haulinbass]

QB was drafted as a raw player who needs time. None of this is shocking.

I think that is only partially true. Obviously it's generally expected for bigger players to need extra time. I personally didn't have him in the top 2, to many concerns for me at the junior level. To much size vs kids being a factor in his production, not enough enguagement in the play, didn't play with the puck on his stick enough especially for a guy physically superior to his peers.

I don't think you draft 2nd overall for a project and expect he is performing the way he is at this point. I think he is certainly behind expectations. With that said, he still has high upside and in time could meet them, but again, definitely not performing the way LA had hoped at 2. I'm not counting him out by any means though.

 

[Choralone]

I'm not sure why he is closer to being a bust in September than he was in June, but uh, whatever.

 

[BlackEye from Xhekaj]

At what point, do people think, does QB get labeled a bust? And, are we close?

Come on.. he just turned 20, and has played 48 NHL games.. not all development is linear. Give the kid some time

 

[Nabrules]

Looooooooool he literally just turned 20.... only one calling him busts see, to be ANA fans

 

[Belloco]

Looooooooool he literally just turned 20.... only one calling him busts see, to be ANA fans

The evolution of his early career is still not terrible. In addition, he still has the physical advantage. Other players of the same age have done better.

When you compare him to Beniers it hurts.

He still has a long career ahead of him but I'm skeptical about ranking him 2nd in a future redraft.

Stutzle was clearly a better choice and yet Byfield's struggles were noticeable in the junior when the level rise up.

 

[Lavar Ball]

The evolution of his early career is still not terrible. In addition, he still has the physical advantage. Other players of the same age have done better.

When you compare him to Beniers it hurts.

He still has a long career ahead of him but I'm skeptical about ranking him 2nd in a future redraft.

Stutzle was clearly a better choice and yet Byfield's struggles were noticeable in the junior when the level rise up.

I don't agree at the time Stutzle was clearly a better choice.

It's easy to make statements like this with hindsight being 20/20