kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
- Jan 1, 2009
- 18,682
- 21,752
9 points in his last 10 games. Not bad for the kid
C Quinton Byfield (2020, 2nd, LAK) part IV
- Thread starter Caser
- Start date
He’s far, far from a finished product, but his tools are incredible, and he’s improved so much since being drafted. Compete level, physicality, skating (especially small area edge work/agility), defensive play, very significant improvement in all of these areas. In the OHL ppl worried he was too dependent on transition plays for his offence, but now he’s a beast along the boards. He has clear high potential with his hands, shot, passing and decision making, but is inconsistent with them, needs to keep working on them to get them to be strengths at the NHL level. Just a matter of time though, IMO - he’s only 20.
I don’t get how people can watch him and not see the huge upside. He’s not one of these guys who had NHL level polish to his game at 18, but his tools are amazing, and the details of his game are coming together over time. Tage Thompson is a great comparison IMO, though Byfield is less of a late bloomer - 20 year old Byfield is similar to 23 year old Tage, arguably better. I expect Byfield to be a legit star player by the time he’s ~22-25 (hard to say when, but somewhere in there).
I don’t get how people can watch him and not see the huge upside. He’s not one of these guys who had NHL level polish to his game at 18, but his tools are amazing, and the details of his game are coming together over time. Tage Thompson is a great comparison IMO, though Byfield is less of a late bloomer - 20 year old Byfield is similar to 23 year old Tage, arguably better. I expect Byfield to be a legit star player by the time he’s ~22-25 (hard to say when, but somewhere in there).
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Shroud of Orrin
Come on, Bob
The Kopitar affect is working. The trick will be a move back to centre and ultimately Fiala and Kempe to feed. That will be the blossoming of QB.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
One of the keys as well is the game is slowing down for him. He wanted to do everything at a million miles an hour to match the NHL pace and he's now realizing he has a unique set of tools to create time and space instead of just rush everything
For example, he realized somewhere in the last month that he could charge the zone to back off a dman then button hook back; once dmen started playing that he started experimenting with a little mohawk step to throw their timing off and at that point he can physically mismatch almost anyone by either hooking back OR dropping the shoulder and speeding past/powering thru them. Like a sponge lately and it's awesome. A lot of 'okay that won''t work, let's try this' with flashes of elite plays only Kopitar/Doughty/Fiala could ever make and even then...
And it's even better that he's getting rewarded for his checking efforts by turning those checks into instant offense, that's encouraging him to not cheat and also using his unique tools to their greatest level even when he's not scoring. For a while there he was getting a lot of 'tertiary' assists for starting plays and props to him for not taking shortcuts or cheating for 'on the scoresheet' offense until it just started happening organically.
It's hard to not be really, really excited at the transformations going on, albeit slowwwwwwly and methodically.
Fiala-QB-Kempe line is a McDavid nightmare (2 speedsters to match him and a boulder to crush him when gets thru).
bland
Registered User
- Jul 1, 2004
- 7,948
- 12,167
Absolutely. And right now Byfield is still mostly "hoping" plays into dangerous chances. Once he settles and realizes how much time and space he create I expect those hope touches and flicks to turn into much more concentrated movements.
Byfield is a few steps away from being a monster. I hope he is still on the left side of Kopitar for one more year before switching back to the middle. Its one thing to contribute, its another to be expected to contribute - and more reps in those expected situations without the pressure to drive a line would do wonders.
He was always going to be an impact player and now it's starting to happen.
So many really bad takes on this player and skewed perspectives because he turned pro so early during the COVID year instead of going back to junior and played NHL games that early before he was ready. He's like 3 months older than Beniers and Power.
So many really bad takes on this player and skewed perspectives because he turned pro so early during the COVID year instead of going back to junior and played NHL games that early before he was ready. He's like 3 months older than Beniers and Power.
Lavar Ball
Neva Lost
Been very impressed by QB tonight. Looks very composed for a player playing in his playoff debut in Edmonton at 20
TwzKing
Registered User
- Nov 19, 2004
- 3,334
- 932
Hes starting to string along good to great games. Looked very noticeable, not sure the point total but very good stretch for him. Still work to be done but there are flashes that show he has even more potential.
- Jul 25, 2012
- 42,763
- 39,714
People act like hes 24 year old or something... he just turned 21 like a month ago... hell be fine... and a piece kings can build around when kopitar retires.
All Mighty
Registered User
I think tonight was the best game I’ve watched him play. Still not sure of his ability to drive a line, but at the very least he’s a solid complementary piece on a good line.
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
He has been very good this season, the jump in his skating, he has gotten more muscle,
i like his passing game, his read of the game at pro level has improved.
I think, when Kopitar retires Kings might want to switch him back to C. He'll be ready then.
big dude at 6 foot 5 and closing in 230 lbs weight, Kings future 1C still a possibility.
Big guys always develop slower, i know many already have labeled him as a bust, or semi-bust
but he is barely 21 years old, been playing at this level since 18, he'll be there, he'll be reaching
his potential and prove why he was picked 2nd overall, i have no doubt.
i like his passing game, his read of the game at pro level has improved.
I think, when Kopitar retires Kings might want to switch him back to C. He'll be ready then.
big dude at 6 foot 5 and closing in 230 lbs weight, Kings future 1C still a possibility.
Big guys always develop slower, i know many already have labeled him as a bust, or semi-bust
but he is barely 21 years old, been playing at this level since 18, he'll be there, he'll be reaching
his potential and prove why he was picked 2nd overall, i have no doubt.
Shroud of Orrin
Come on, Bob
He had a few Bambi moments on his feet during the game but he seemed to process the game pretty well last night. He looked pretty engaged the entire time too and you can’t teach his speed and size.
Kid was always drafted as a bit of a project and the injury issues his first couple years sure didn’t help but he looks to be making some serious progress (which I love as I have him In one of the deepest keeper leagues around). Definitely forget how young he is sometimes too. Future looks bright for him.
Would still like to see him get a bit more time on ice on the PP or at least on the PK
Kid was always drafted as a bit of a project and the injury issues his first couple years sure didn’t help but he looks to be making some serious progress (which I love as I have him In one of the deepest keeper leagues around). Definitely forget how young he is sometimes too. Future looks bright for him.
Would still like to see him get a bit more time on ice on the PP or at least on the PK
Pavels Dog
Registered User
He's young but so's everyone else from that draft. It's not like he's the only one still developing.
Frolov 6'3
Unregistered User
Pavels Dog
Registered User
Poppy Whoa Sonnet
J'Accuse!
- Jan 24, 2007
- 7,621
- 8,303
He'll be fine means what exactly? Like he'll turn into Tage Thompson? Or he'll be a good complimentary winger that can play anywhere in the lineup?
bland
Registered User
- Jul 1, 2004
- 7,948
- 12,167
IMO he does have Tage Thompson-esque upside, and a realistic shot of reaching it. Of course he could fall short, development in young players is inherently unpredictable, but I won’t be surprised if he hits Tage Thompson upside.
His raw tools, in terms of size, strength, athleticism, agility, hockey IQ, puck skills - very similar to a young Tage Thompson. His shot isn’t as good as young Tage, but that’s not a huge deal. Overall he’s ahead of same age Tage, clearly - he’s 21, and Tage wasn’t this good at 23, nevermind 21. Now, Tage made massive progress around 24-25, Byfield may never reach the same level, but I think he has a legit chance to.
IMO Byfield is a lock to be a good, high value top 6 forward throughout his prime, and he’s got franchise 1C upside, similar to Tage (assuming he makes the switch back to C, otherwise … like a winger version, as Tage was much of his career).
As an Aug 19 BDay he is younger than most others in the draft. Stutzle is 8 months older, Laf 10.
He’s young relative to his draft peers
8 and 10 months at that age is a lot when it comes to development too.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
The game looks like it's starting to slow down for him and he's building confidence. He's been the guy carrying the Kopitar/Kempe line right now--Kopitar is showing his age, god bless him, and Kempe is...not right to start this season.
He was also inexplicably robbed of a couple of clear assists, which is funny because it adds to his production 'argument' but make no mistake, there is major growth.
