WJC - Byfield Thoughts

[KopitarFAN]

I read a couple posts saying that the Kings picked him knowing he was going to be a project... A second overall... Being
a project. That shouldn't be a thing

You also don't get 50+ point 18 year olds on a regular basis, especially if you can't give them tons of ice time.

 

[Sol]

You also don't get 50+ point 18 year olds on a regular basis, especially if you can't give them tons of ice time.

Nevertheless let's not make "he's a project" excuse on a 2nd overall player. You never draft projects this high.

 

[Statto]

He’s not a project, but that doesn’t mean it won’t take an extra year or so for him to find himself.

I’ve not been able to see any of the games so I’m talking based on what I’ve read in various places and the odd clip. Firstly we don’t know what role he’s been asked to play, there seems to be a general consensus that he’s been pretty engaged physically. Given that’s an area on his game he’s working on and it’s definitely something he’s developing, perhaps that is affecting the natural rhythm of his game. Also it’s entirely possible he’s one of those players that takes a few games before he gets his timing or maybe that’s something the long lay-off has caused.

It could also be that the coach is just the wrong coach for him, maybe he prepared in the wrong way this off season, maybe he’s prepared for LA not Canada... etc. We can only speculate and offer conjecture, which is all I’m doing and it’s easy to do. All we can agree on is that he has not yet lit the tournament up. However, given how weird the build up to this years WJC has been, there are plenty of mitigating factors. Anyone that has seen anything beyond just YouTube highlights will know he’s a top, top player that for one reason or another hasn’t got going yet.

He may not prove worthy of being a #2 pick when it’s all said and done, but the damning statements I’ve read are ridiculous. Too many are seemingly enthusiastic about it also, which irritates the hell out of me. BTW, a hat trick in his next game doesn’t mean everyone should start talking about him having a HOF career either, as it won’t eclipse his poor start. Knowing why that’s been the case will be important, but as long as the Kings development staff know where he is at and why it is the case then that is all that matters. If they are scratching their heads then that would maybe worry me a little, but even then they barely know him.

Everyone just needs to relax as the WJC won’t make or break anyone’s career, especially this years one.

 

[funky]

Everyone just needs to relax as the WJC won’t make or break anyone’s career, especially this years one.

This times 1000.

Every fall three of my hockey teams start up again. On only one of those teams do we play through the summer. I can tell you for the first 3 to 4 games the guys playing in summer league including myself have a very distinct advantage over the guys that haven’t played over the summer. It’s not even close. Some of our third line guys are making our top line guys look like donkeys. From the 3 to 6 game Mark things start becoming more even and for the rest of the season after that the top goes start showing their true skill. There is no difference in what is happening now.

There is only one or two exceptions on our team where it seems they could take two years off hockey and step back in with no rust. Those guys are truly unique and very rare

 

[SFKingshomer]

I read a couple posts saying that the Kings picked him knowing he was going to be a project... A second overall... Being
a project. That shouldn't be a thing. People have a reason to be unsettled with him. A bad WJC isnt a done deal that he's a bust. But it sure doesn't do anything to suggest that he isn't one either.

Overall it's disappointing to see him play poorly, and those who are calling him a project should really take a good look at where he was drafted.

He is a project and is at least 3-4 years away from making an impact.

 

[tbrown33]

Isn’t every prospect a project to a certain degree? Is everyone even talking about the same thing? How many years out from “appears on NHL roster” does it take to be considered a project. Or are we talking about how long it takes to enter his prime? Honestly asking bc everyone seemingly has a different arbitrary definition. What exactly is the benchmark here?

 

[SFKingshomer]

I think this year should be considered a write off for every player in every sport. We have no idea the frame of mind they are in due to this pandemic.

 

[Sol]

Isn’t every prospect a project to a certain degree? Is everyone even talking about the same thing? How many years out from “appears on NHL roster” does it take to be considered a project. Or are we talking about how long it takes to enter his prime? Honestly asking bc everyone seemingly has a different arbitrary definition. What exactly is the benchmark here?

Every player is a "project" to an extent. My problem is seeing people say that Byfield is showing very little signs of being close to an NHL player. Doughty for example at #2 was playing in the NHL immediately and was great so he wasn't necessarily a project because he joined, and was immediately impactful.

Byfield isn't anywhere close to NHL readiness in comparison to Doughty. Both drafted at the same spot.

That's the context I use when I think of a player being a project or not. Players who are drafted that high are usually NHL ready or close to it.

Byfield hasn't shown that he's close, that's what worries me.

 

[LAKings88]

Tournaments are not the end all be all. I was always the go to guy on weaker teams. As competition got harder my role changed. It wasn’t that I wasn’t good but I couldn’t elevate my game. I became more of a grinder on those all-star teams. Byfield has a few games left this tournament but has not shown a willingness or ability to dominate on a world stage. It’s a little concerning. This is his second go around. Now you got some saying just wait till next year which would be his third go around.

Hyperbole on both sides here. His career isn’t over and he isn’t a hall of famer either.

I think it is ok to say you have concerns without having to be ridiculed for it.

 

[The Butcher]

It's fun to watch but I find it hard to make any firm evaluation on players in this tournament, good or bad. How do we know how any of these players will react with the day to day threat of NHL defensemen smashing your face in every time they try getting cute?

 

[bland]

Byfield is a "project" because he isn't a player drafted 2nd overall with the intention of reaching the NHL within a year or two of his draft date. He has mammoth potential that won't be realized without prerequisite work - anyone who thinks he could play in the NHL right away is gravely mistaken.

Normally you don't draft a player whose current form is so far away from his potential that early in the draft, but because Byfield has a damn good chance of being one of the rarest of commodities, a massive #1 center, the Kings took that chance despite the fact that there were options who are expected to meet their highest end potential much faster. With Vilardi and Turcotte already on the way, and Kopitar still chugging along, the Kings were uniquely in the position of taking a chance on the highest payoff on the draft board.

Stützle, Raymond, Drysdale and even Rossi would have been far better choices if the Kings couldn't afford the patience needed with Byfield. But, they could - imagine how Red Wings fans would be sweating this WJC out if they selected Byfield #2 overall.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Overall it's disappointing to see him play poorly, and those who are calling him a project should really take a good look at where he was drafted.

LOL, have you watched any of the games? I'd like to know what qualifies has 'playing poorly'...I'm just not seeing it.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Nevertheless let's not make "he's a project" excuse on a 2nd overall player. You never draft projects this high.

Were the Kings the only ones who had Byfield rated #2 overall?? WTF

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Remember when Hughes and Kakko looked like stars at the World Juniors in their draft years, and remember how they looked in the NHL this past season? Or do some of you have short memories?

 

[Herby]

Why do so many take such polar extremes?

It is fair to say that it’s just a tournament and he is still young and it’s also fair to say that he looks underwhelming for a 2OA playing this tourney as an 18 year old.

Some people want to be so overly negative and others just pretend it’a totally fine.

 

[King'sPawn]

LOL, have you watched any of the games? I'd like to know what qualifies has 'playing poorly'...I'm just not seeing it.

There are some who have levied some valid criticisms. Most notably, he's not dictating the pace, he's not controlling the ice, and he's not generating dangerous scoring chances.

I'm also not sure about his style of play at the tournament. It's very much a "work harder, not smarter" type where he always is physically engaged with someone when the puck is near him.

Ultimately, I think he's having a rougher tournament than he'd like. I don't think he's playing badly. I just don't think he's NHL ready.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I just don't think he's NHL ready.

Well, there ya go....the overall consensus has always been that he’s not ready for the NHL...yet. If he was doing all these things that Kings fans seem to think he should be doing right now, I guess he would be NHL ready, no?

 

[Herby]

Any of our prospects do well in the WJC, this place crowns them. If they do poorly, it's all excuses.

This is very true. But been going on for years here.

Not just WJC though. Using 2 Kings prospects from last year. Everyone was crazy over Kaliyev (me included) who had a huge D+1 season but then didn’t want to acknowledge that Alex Turcotte had a very disappointing D+1, as you said the excuses rolled in.

I prefer to debate with people who have more consistent views.

 

[raswilliam]

hard to do much when you are playing Colin Fraser type minutes/role on the 4th line.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Anze Kopitar didn't play in the NHL his first season after being drafted and he never appeared in the WJC.

It's not really relevant but it kinda is.

 

[LAKings88]

Anze Kopitar didn't play in the NHL his first season after being drafted and he never appeared in the WJC.

It's not really relevant but it kinda is.

All of Slovenia didn’t

Maybe Quinton will blow past Pronger for his first NHL goal.

 

[wings5]

The Kings are going to gave quite a quandary this coming season. Having Byfield play in the OHL, which appears as if it would be a good idea under normal circumstances, will be a waste of time due to their ridiculous "no-check" policy. Maybe the Kings will find value in having Byfield play nine games in the NHL and practicing with the NHL club.

He's signed so technically the Kings can loan him to Europe to play with men which is what I feel he will benefit from the most

 

[HookKing]

LOL, have you watched any of the games? I'd like to know what qualifies has 'playing poorly'...I'm just not seeing it.

Just read the "positive" posts in this thread. He's been demoted from "will he make the team this year" to a project -- "at least 3 to 4 years away." All based on a couple of games.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Have any careers been made or broken based on a World Juniors performance? Inquiring minds would like to know.

 

[Mats26]

Have any careers been made or broken based on a World Juniors performance? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Yes.. Ryan Phoeling, he went from WJC MVP, elite status according to media and local montreal fans to losing the 4th line spot to Evans. High expectations couldn't deliver. At the time McGuire even said he will be a real special player for montreal for a long time. He is no more than a 4th liner if he ever makes it.