Kings Were Wise To Keep Byfield At All Costs, But Have To Repeat History

The Los Angeles Kings drafted Quinton Byfield second overall in 2020, and although it took a little longer than they had hoped and he hasn't yet turned into the player the team hopes and expects him to be, he's well on his way and over an early career hurdle.

Byfield's bright future is now clearly in view, but when he scored just eight goals and 33 points in his first 99 games over his first three seasons, it didn't look great. According to Michael Russo, "there are a lot of teams that tried to get him (Byfield), including Minnesota. I remember in the (Kevin) Fiala deal, they wound up 'settling' for (Brock) Faber."

Byfield finally flipped a switch and it coincided with him getting more opportunities and spending some time on the wing, even though he is the future number one center. He put up 20 goals and 55 points in 2023-24 and then 23 goals and 54 points last season. Byfield is currently projected to center the second line between Fiala and Alex Laferriere.

Byfield received Selke Trophy votes last season, even though he finished 37th in voting, his two-way play was noticed enough and he has had Anze Kopitar, a two-time Selke Trophy winner, to learn under. Byfield is growing into Kopitar's shoes slowly, but surely, but it might be a tougher transition for the team if Kopitar does hang up his skates after the 2025-26 season as was reported.

Byfield is definitely not going anywhere, whether the Kings are contenders or have to dive into a rebuild/retool. A 23-year-old top pick who is improving has a place on every team and his cap hit of $6.25 million AAV for four more years is great.

There was a report that Ken Holland didn't want to trade Brandt Clarke before seeing him next season, but this seems like one of those slow-ish starts to a career that will end up looking like a distant memory sooner than later. Clarke is the only young defenseman in the Kings' organization that has the potential to be the future number one and he is also a high pick.

Clarke is only 22 years old and scored five goals and 33 points last season, even with taking a backseat to Drew Doughty upon his return to the lineup. Byfield and Clarke are two pieces the Kings have to build around and keeping both of them shouldn't be in question.