What’s up with Byfield?

[Crazy8oooo]

It's two contrasts. First point, we should have picked Stutzle. Second point, if Byfield was following MacK's footsteps, I'd be A-OK with that, obviously. Thesis, I'm disappointed with Byfield as he's not Stutzle and he's not turning into MacK either.

Unstated point, it feel bad that Byfield plays well on a contract year, signs a new deal, and now looks bad post-contract.

This seems like a weird year, where lots of recent young players who were looking like future stars, seem to be regressing.

 

[Sol]

Yup. Byfield over Stutzle was such a huge miss by the Kings, one that was painfully obvious before draft day even. One good half season from Byfield doesn't change that

Been lambasted by my own fan base when I said that Byfield doesn’t have nearly the talent Stutzle did.

 

[quackquackquack]

I've probably watched him 20 times so not a huge sample size but he appears to be more of an athlete than a hockey player. He has incredible size, strength and speed but he doesn't seem as skilled as his comparable peers. I keep reading about his shot and hands but I just haven't seen it honestly. Again - my sample size is relatively small.

 

[Andrei79]

He's a young player who hasn't yet established himself as a top player. There will be ups and downs.

 

[Bank Shot]

This seems like a weird year, where lots of recent young players who were looking like future stars, seem to be regressing.

That always happens.

Byfield can be a valuable piece on a contender with his speed and size. It just might be on his next contract if he doesn't find the offense during this one.

 

[Rorschach]

Been lambasted by my own fan base when I said that Byfield doesn’t have nearly the talent Stutzle did.

You and I were getting beat down verbally.

 

[Galactico]

I saw him play in person at both pre-season games in Quebec City this year and he looked like the best player on the ice. I think he’ll figure it out.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

I saw him play in person at both pre-season games in Quebec City this year and he looked like the best player on the ice. I think he’ll figure it out.

No he wont, see this topic.

These people were nowhere to be seen last year and now they are out in full force. They know it better.

 

[JKG33]

Been lambasted by my own fan base when I said that Byfield doesn’t have nearly the talent Stutzle did.

Yea, I stay away from Byfield discussion in the Kings section now for just that reason

 

[SettlementRichie10]

They should trade Byfield... say, to Flyers.

I’m okay with that as long as it’s negotiated by our next GM. Otherwise Blake will give him away from free.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He sat most of last year being the 3rd wheel with Kopitar and kempe. Anytime they tried to have him drive his own line his numbers plummeted. This year they're trying to have him drive his own line as a C and again, his numbers are not great.

It's easy to verify this as terribly wrong. Last year's #s with and without:

Byfield last year was excellent without Kopitar, its not inaccurate to say AK was rough without him.

This season, it's not as pronounced, aside from Kopitar and Kempe doing more without him:

As usual, @bland nailed it without emotion. Seems like a few things going on. QB was excellent in the preseason and then got hurt early in the season and hasn't looked the same since. It's forced and awkward, but it also appears the confidence has gone with it.

Little silly to be taking victory laps without watching him.

OP has been motherf***ing this kid since he was 16, so of course he finally saw his first opportunity to take his shot. It'll look silly in short order.

For your fantasy team, I probably wouldn't expect much from him for another few weeks at least. Look for an emergence around January.

My bigger worry with him as an NHLer is that he doesn't appear to be the type to be able to be consistent enough offensively to ever really go nuclear. The defense and all around game is always there, so he'll never hurt you (except right now, which wasn't even the case in his rookie year, so it's in passing imo). But any time he gets banged up or sick or isn't 'feeling it,' he'll go a bit cold, and thus far that's happened unfortunately often. It's the 'upper body' thing this season (wrists?), last couple seasons it was prolonged illnesses where he lost a lot of weight and another bigger injury. That's a problematic trend. He's usually at least making plays.

Also your usual yearly reminder that development isn't linear and a lot of the people hating on Byfield in this thread were also hating on Turcotte and Vilardi and now just have to watch those guys be excellent night in and night out, so I'll take it as validation that he's on his way instead.

 

[Osprey]

Byfield last year was excellent without Kopitar, its not inaccurate to say AK was rough without him.

That's because, when it wasn't Byfield with him and Kempe, it was Lafferiere or Turcotte, two rookies that were not ready to complement star players or face top competition every night. It's not surprising that his numbers slipped. Meanwhile, Byfield was getting easier minutes, so it's understandable that he continued to play well. The takeaway from all of this shouldn't be that Byfield was carrying the top line or that the top line was carrying him, but that he was a much better fit on it than the two rookies that replaced him. As I said earlier, he's not a line driver, but he can be a good complementary player.

 

[Kshahdoo]

I’m okay with that as long as it’s negotiated by our next GM. Otherwise Blake will give him away from free.

I'm pretty sure Philadelphia will pay generously, they have a whole lot of 1st round picks, and Kings need to rebuild.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That's because, when it wasn't Byfield with him and Kempe, it was Lafferiere or Turcotte, two rookies that were not ready to complement star players or face top competition every night. It's not surprising that his numbers slipped. Meanwhile, Byfield was getting easier minutes, so it's understandable that he continued to play well. The takeaway from all of this shouldn't be that Byfield was carrying the top line or that the top line was carrying him, but that he was a much better fit on it than the two rookies that replaced him. As I said earlier, he's not a line driver, but he can be a good complementary player.

And when Byfield was away from Kopitar, his most common linemates were...laferriere, PLD, and Turcotte. And Kopitar still had a 40 goal scorer on his line.

Easier matchups yes but he was STILL the one carrying play and that's supported by numbers and eye test.

You can do that exercise for any number of players and the results are the same. The common denominator was that Byfield elevated each of those players:

**of course, right now he's neither line driver nor complementary player, he's a train wreck. But I doubt he suddenly forgot how to hockey as this thread somehow suggests.