The LA Kings signed the forward. Quinton Byfield The five-year contract extension, through the 2028-29 season, is worth an average annual salary (AAV) of $6.25 million.
The 21-year-old Byfield appeared in 80 games last season, setting career highs in games played, goals (20), assists (35), points (55), power play goals (6), power play points (14) and game-winning goals (4) while posting a plus-19 rating that was third-best on the team and best among the team's forwards. Byfield is just the third Kings player in the past 20 years to record 20 goals in a season while under the age of 21.Anze Kopitar32G in 2007-08, 27G in 2008-09, 20G in 2006-07, Alex FrolovHe recorded four assists (0-4=4) in five Stanley Cup Playoff games, good for 10th in team history.
Selected second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Byfield became the 31st player in franchise history to score in his 100th career game on Oct. 11, 2023. He also recorded six career assists (0-9=9) from Oct. 31-Nov. 11, becoming the fourth skater under the age of 21 in franchise history to record six or more assist games. Jimmy CarsonThe six-game series was in 1987-88 (3 wins, 8 losses, 11 draws).
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward recorded 35 assists and 55 points last season, ranking fifth and fourth in the league, respectively, among skaters under the age of 22. Byfield also recorded five multi-goal records, tying him for the most on the team. Trevor Moorethe most by any skater under the age of 21 in the league. This made Byfield one of six skaters in franchise history with five or more multi-goal games in a season before turning 22, the first player to do so in more than 30 years (Jimmy Carson had nine in 1987-88).
Byfield made his NHL debut on April 28, 2021, at the age of 18 years and 252 days against Anaheim, becoming the sixth-youngest player to appear in a game for the Kings. Since then, Byfield has accumulated 28 goals, 60 assists, and 88 points (28-60=88) in 179 NHL games. His 88 points during this span make Byfield just the 10th skater in franchise history to record at least 80 career points before turning 22, joining Anze Kopitar (79-125=204 in 236 games) as the all-time leader. Byfield also appeared in 59 games over three seasons with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL), scoring 41 points (21-20=41).
Prior to turning professional, Byfield appeared in 109 games over two seasons with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), recording 143 points (61-82=143) and eight points (3-5=8) in eight postseason appearances. During that time he was selected to the 2019-20 OHL Third All-Star team, served as team captain in the CHL Top Prospect Game, won the 2018-19 CHL Rookie of the Year and OHL Rookie of the Year awards and was named to the OHL First All-Rookie team after finishing the season with 61 points (29-32=61) in 64 games.
The Newmarket, Ontario native has represented Canada on a number of occasions, most recently winning a silver medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship with seven points (2-5=7) in seven games, a gold medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, becoming the youngest player ever to be named on a gold medal winning team, and silver medals at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
