Stunning Injury Revelation From Kings' Quinton Byfield

Hockey players are pretty private and elusive during the season about specific injury problems they're facing. But after the season, the truth usually comes out. And sometimes, it's wild. Los Angeles Kings' Quinton Byfield has revealed that he played with not one, but TWO torn obliques this season.

Byfield tore his right oblique in his abdomen. Then tore the other side later. Won't require surgery this offaeason.
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) April 29, 2026

Oblique injuries are often some of the hardest to recover from, but Byfield obviously didn't get the memo.

Quinton Byfield played through TWO torn obliques this season

He said he tore his right oblique just after the Olympic break in February. That one eventually healed, but then he tore the oblique on his left side. Somehow, Byfield managed to play through that one for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs. The Kings were eliminated in four games in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche.

What makes this whole gruesome story even more incredible is that the Kings' young center played his best hockey of the season while contending with that second torn oblique. He posted 11 goals in his last 15 games.

On the season, the 23-year-old registered 24 goals and 25 assists for 49 points in 79 games. And again, given the two torn obliques, the 79 games played is the most stunning stat of all.

He has three years to run on his five-year deal with a $6.25 million AAV. He'll be counted on to step up to another level with the retirement of Anze Kopitar leaving a big hole down the middle for the Kings.

Thanks to the strong finish, Byfield's 24 goals are a career-high, though his points total finished a bit under his previous two seasons.