Congrats to QB!!!

[hokiecat]

It took a while (until the 27th) but he finally got his first points in December. The scoreless game streak is over.

I'm sure he is just a slow developer and will be catching Stutzle soon. /s Heck, Stutlzle who is supposed to be a winger/center is even better at faceoffs than Q now.

For giggles, I decided to go back and look at some of the posts in the "Kempe Contract Watch". I wish he was as good/productive as a Mark Scheifele. His FO percentage has dropped from 44% to 39%. His hot patch of scoring is long gone. I have said for a long while that the Kings drafted the wrong guy. That said, what the heck is the staff doing to him these days? Do they not practice faceoffs? Do they not teach him how to drive the net with his speed? Why did he totally regress in December?

 

[Bollocks]

I'd guess it's a confidence thing. No one else stepping up to boost the team's offense sure doesn't help either.

Stutzle>QB, yes. Now what?

 

[Clif]

I’d be more upset about QB if there weren’t a million other things to be upset about this season and beyond.

 

[DryKing]

It seems to be a combination of things when it comes to QB - confidence (as others have said), adjusting to playing against the opposing team's top line, pass first mentality, mental game in general, weight issues, and not having the right wingers to compliment him.

Winger problem I expect will be solved next season by finally moving Kempe on to his line full-time and potentially acquiring a good fit for the other wing (though there are a couple options on the team). The mental game (confidence, pass first, general) is going to be a tough one to overcome. It still seems like Q has problems processing the game and, instead, relies too heavily on his talent alone. Some of this will improve with experience (which should also help is FO%) but it doesn't seem like he is poised to be someone who out-thinks their opponents and may struggle once his physical gifts begin to fade. Thankfully he has some pretty good teammates this season to learn from when it comes to the mental side of the game (Kopi, Laf, Kuz, Perry).

He also needs to add a lot of muscle still. It seems like muscle-wise, he took a step back this season (which I am guessing was part of the Kings' plans for him). Strength improvement will also help him when it comes to faceoffs. I get that doing so will slow him down, but currently he does not have the strength to be a power forward or hang around the crease effectively.

 

[Rogie-Vachon]

I saw the Congratulations & I thought I missed him winning a faceoff.

 

[What party?]

I saw the Congratulations & I thought I missed him winning a faceoff.

 

[santiclaws]

I’d be more upset about QB if there weren’t a million other things to be upset about this season and beyond.

Honestly, he is the biggest thing I do worry about. I really thought he was going to be the guy the Kings could build the team around in years to come. After a slow start, he showed indications of becoming a real force on the ice last season and had a number of dominant games. I thought that he would take a big step forward this season. He has taken a big step backward instead. There's still hope for QB, some guys are just slow to develop, with Kempe being Exhibit A. But the odds are not great at this point.

Without him becoming that solid 1C, the Kings don't really have any building blocks. They don't have a 2C for next season, assuming QB stays as 1C. Clarke is looking like he is more likely to be a good No. 2/3 defenseman, not a No. 1. So the Kings have no solid prospects in the pipeline this side of Carter George, no young studs to build around, and no high picks any time soon (unless they completely collapse this season, which is a possibility, but not very likely). The black hole is looking like a very real possibility for years to come.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

It's the Q necklace holding him back.

 

[What party?]

Honestly, he is the biggest thing I do worry about. I really thought he was going to be the guy the Kings could build the team around in years to come. After a slow start, he showed indications of becoming a real force on the ice last season and had a number of dominant games. I thought that he would take a big step forward this season. He has taken a big step backward instead. There's still hope for QB, some guys are just slow to develop, with Kempe being Exhibit A. But the odds are not great at this point.

Without him becoming that solid 1C, the Kings don't really have any building blocks. They don't have a 2C for next season, assuming QB stays as 1C. Clarke is looking like he is more likely to be a good No. 2/3 defenseman, not a No. 1. So the Kings have no solid prospects in the pipeline this side of Carter George, no young studs to build around, and no high picks any time soon (unless they completely collapse this season, which is a possibility, but not very likely). The black hole is looking like a very real possibility for years to come.

And yet no one buys into my the NHL is contracting teams and the Kings are on the first round of cuts. I'm telling you Ken is just running out the clock in every single way. =)

Me to the board:

 

[Clif]

Honestly, he is the biggest thing I do worry about. I really thought he was going to be the guy the Kings could build the team around in years to come. After a slow start, he showed indications of becoming a real force on the ice last season and had a number of dominant games. I thought that he would take a big step forward this season. He has taken a big step backward instead. There's still hope for QB, some guys are just slow to develop, with Kempe being Exhibit A. But the odds are not great at this point.

Without him becoming that solid 1C, the Kings don't really have any building blocks. They don't have a 2C for next season, assuming QB stays as 1C. Clarke is looking like he is more likely to be a good No. 2/3 defenseman, not a No. 1. So the Kings have no solid prospects in the pipeline this side of Carter George, no young studs to build around, and no high picks any time soon (unless they completely collapse this season, which is a possibility, but not very likely). The black hole is looking like a very real possibility for years to come.

tl:dr version of my response; you’re accurate, but I can’t divorce any player enough from Jim Hiller to be more concerned about their play vs. his coaching.

Long response:

In the summer I said this season QB needed to put up 70 points to show consistency at both ends of the ice and demonstrate he could develop into a ppg player. If this team wasn’t scraping the floor in goals for and scoring wasn’t down team wide I’d be more concerned about Byfield. But instead he looks like just another symptom of a failed system.

QB doesn’t shoot enough. The team doesn’t shoot enough.

QB was hitting last year. This year the whole team sits back shys away from initiating physical play.

QB doesn’t play confident. Who does? This whole team looks like its forced to play to a single style and identity, regardless of individual skill and strengths. Hiller will play Malott but Malott doesn’t hit enough or act as an enforcer in any way. He is just a body on the ice. Everyone plays like a body on the ice until they get to maybe try and capitalize on a mistake. An actual coach would harness individual skills and coach a composite of those skills, not reduce everyone to a game of wait-and-see.

The exception is Turcotte. So devils advocate that’s a guy who asserts himself to the best of his ability. It would be great to see Byfield asserting himself, but I feel that he, like the entire team, has gone as far under Hiller as possible.

Hiller’s pretty consuming for me since the scared, gutless, low-scoring, boring, weak team we see points back in very large part to him.

 

[santiclaws]

tl:dr version of my response; you’re accurate, but I can’t divorce any player enough from Jim Hiller to be more concerned about their play vs. his coaching.

Long response:

In the summer I said this season QB needed to put up 70 points to show consistency at both ends of the ice and demonstrate he could develop into a ppg player. If this team wasn’t scraping the floor in goals for and scoring wasn’t down team wide I’d be more concerned about Byfield. But instead he looks like just another symptom of a failed system.

QB doesn’t shoot enough. The team doesn’t shoot enough.

QB was hitting last year. This year the whole team sits back shys away from initiating physical play.

QB doesn’t play confident. Who does? This whole team looks like its forced to play to a single style and identity, regardless of individual skill and strengths. Hiller will play Malott but Malott doesn’t hit enough or act as an enforcer in any way. He is just a body on the ice. Everyone plays like a body on the ice until they get to maybe try and capitalize on a mistake. An actual coach would harness individual skills and coach a composite of those skills, not reduce everyone to a game of wait-and-see.

The exception is Turcotte. So devils advocate that’s a guy who asserts himself to the best of his ability. It would be great to see Byfield asserting himself, but I feel that he, like the entire team, has gone as far under Hiller as possible.

Hiller’s pretty consuming for me since the scared, gutless, low-scoring, boring, weak team we see points back in very large part to him.

Hiller was the coach last season, too. Byfield was a lot better, and was given fewer minutes. He's not going to the hard areas, he's making dumb plays Hiller is certainly not asking him to make. He's supposed to be a top-tier NHL player. He needs to be a lot better, regardless of coach.

 

[VCRW]

It's the Q necklace holding him back.

Sadly, I believe it’s his brain that is holding him back. Q seems pretty short of hockey sense. And that can’t really be learned. But hopefully some of his bad habits can be broken.

 

[mugs]

If I'm worried about this season, then put him back on wing. If I'm working towards the future then continue to, gulp, continue to play him at center.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

I’d be more upset about QB if there weren’t a million other things to be upset about this season and beyond.

Several people below your post have already said it, but yes, QB should be your primary focus, and source of concern. It would basically cure all ills if he was as good as a Draisaitl, a Stutzle, or a Leo Carlsson.

 

[symbology]

Honestly, he is the biggest thing I do worry about. I really thought he was going to be the guy the Kings could build the team around in years to come. After a slow start, he showed indications of becoming a real force on the ice last season and had a number of dominant games. I thought that he would take a big step forward this season. He has taken a big step backward instead. There's still hope for QB, some guys are just slow to develop, with Kempe being Exhibit A. But the odds are not great at this point.

Without him becoming that solid 1C, the Kings don't really have any building blocks. They don't have a 2C for next season, assuming QB stays as 1C. Clarke is looking like he is more likely to be a good No. 2/3 defenseman, not a No. 1. So the Kings have no solid prospects in the pipeline this side of Carter George, no young studs to build around, and no high picks any time soon (unless they completely collapse this season, which is a possibility, but not very likely). The black hole is looking like a very real possibility for years to come.

It is not so much a complaint of QB's play. He is going to grow and be the player he is going to be. The expectations were pretty high, that he would take over for Kopi. As you said there were times last year where he was arguably the best player on the team. Have not seen that from him so far this year. You bring up another point, which is something I have brought up a lot. If QB does not elevate his game and become a decent 1C, the Kings are cooked (well done) for years to come. They may be cooked no matter what.

Another thought I had........

In the 2012 cup run, the Kings were able to trade JJ for JC and Voynov came up from the AHL and took over for JJ on the 2nd pairing. That year they also brought up Nolan and King. So, 3 players brought up to the NHL from the AHL and all of them were a part of the cup winning team.

In 2014 the Kings brought up Toffoli and Pearson. Those two were important players in the 2014 cup run.

Here we are in 2025 and the Kings have no players that are ready to step into the NHL. The Kings are losing Kopi and there is no replacement. If QB does not take a big step up soon, the Kings are done. We all know good 1C/2C centers do not grow on trees.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

It is not so much a complaint of QB's play. He is going to grow and be the player he is going to be. The expectations were pretty high, that he would take over for Kopi. As you said there were times last year where he was arguably the best player on the team. Have not seen that from him so far this year. You bring up another point, which is something I have brought up a lot. If QB does not elevate his game and become a decent 1C, the Kings are cooked (well done) for years to come. They may be cooked no matter what.

Another thought I had........

In the 2012 cup run, the Kings were able to trade JJ for JC and Voynov came up from the AHL and took over for JJ on the 2nd pairing. That year they also brought up Nolan and King. So, 3 players brought up to the NHL from the AHL and all of them were a part of the cup winning team.

In 2014 the Kings brought up Toffoli and Pearson. Those two were important players in the 2014 cup run.

Here we are in 2025 and the Kings have no players that are ready to step into the NHL. The Kings are losing Kopi and there is no replacement. If QB does not take a big step up soon, the Kings are done. We all know good 1C/2C centers do not grow on trees.

Well to be fair, QB, Turcotte, and Clarke are supposed to be those guys, stepping in and stepping up. If you’re looking for another wave, you’ll probably need to wait another 2-3 years for Greentree, one of the goalies, and two of the defenders to be ready to step in.

But I agree with you, and that’s why I’ve been so critical of Byfield’s development, or lack thereof. And also when everyone around here was gargling his balls, calling him a number one center. The guy is barely a #2 center, if he’s even worthy of being called a center at all. More like 2nd line winger.

 

[orpheus]

I thought this thread was gonna be a congratulations on him beating Battletoads.

 

[Clif]

Hiller was the coach last season, too. Byfield was a lot better, and was given fewer minutes. He's not going to the hard areas, he's making dumb plays Hiller is certainly not asking him to make. He's supposed to be a top-tier NHL player. He needs to be a lot better, regardless of coach.

Hiller was coach last year and the team was good, now they’re not good. Danault was good too, and this year he was so miserable, disinterested, and unproductive he asked to be traded.

A couple stats on money puck that correlate with what i’m seeing:

Last year Kings ranked 15th in hits. So far this year 31st.

Last year Kings were first in rebound goals for. This year they’re 31st.

This team is not going to the hard areas or the net the way a competitive team needs to.

Again what you’re saying is accurate. And I appreciate that you recognize the strides Byfield made as a full-time center last year. Not everyone here gives him even that credit.

I also recognize it feels awfully simplistic and unsatisfying to fall back on the “he still has time/potential” yet again. But something is wrong with this team and for me that all points to Hiller more than individual players. Like, Hiller is absolutely washed here.

 

[Bill Hicks]

Hiller was coach last year and the team was good, now they’re not good. Danault was good too, and this year he was so miserable, disinterested, and unproductive he asked to be traded.

A couple stats on money puck that correlate with what i’m seeing:

Last year Kings ranked 15th in hits. So far this year 31st.

Last year Kings were first in rebound goals for. This year they’re 31st.

This team is not going to the hard areas or the net the way a competitive team needs to.

Again what you’re saying is accurate. And I appreciate that you recognize the strides Byfield made as a full-time center last year. Not everyone here gives him even that credit.

I also recognize it feels awfully simplistic and unsatisfying to fall back on the “he still has time/potential” yet again. But something is wrong with this team and for me that all points to Hiller more than individual players. Like, Hiller is absolutely washed here.

It boils down to the EDM series. The entire world saw what an incompetent/arrogant
coach Hiller is. Last year he had the benefit of being an unknown quantity. Since that challenge
and refusal to adjust his ways, he's been exposed as the fraud he is. And he has just continued
into this season with few, if any, adjustments. The players certainly know this.
Why should they go balls out for this guy?
A new voice in the room could deliver the same message without the stink attached to it.

As for QB, maybe that botched clearing is still front and center in his head? Who knows.

 

[Dr. Tran]

The fact that most of the team is having a subpar season offensively says that Hiller is the biggest problem with the team. They're going to win games & probably get to the playoffs. But they'll never win anything with him as head coach.

But I think questions have to be asked about QB. I don't know if the pressure of being Kopi's eventual replacement has gotten to him or what. But this season has been a disaster. Now the question is if he's even a good center. I want to see how he does with Moore & Foegele. But if he doesn't put a good stretch of games together, maybe he should move up with Kopi & Kempe. And unless we get someone in a trade, then we try out Laffy at center for the rest of the season.

But this team is starving for centers at any level. That's why I half-jokingly said to trade Carter George. Not necessarily him but one of our goalie prospects. The only center in our system who has a chance at being a 1 or 2C is whoever we pick in the 2026 draft. I was looking at all the centers we drafted in the 1st or 2nd round since Kempe in 2014 - Vilardi, JAD, Kupari, Thomas, Turcotte, Byfield, Pinelli, Helenius, Hughes. We've not done well at either drafting them or keeping them. Turcotte, Byfield, & Helenius are on the team but are still trying to prove themselves. Pinelli & Hughes are with the Reign. Everyone else is gone. And Kempe's great but he's not even a center anymore. I don't know what's worse. How we've handled the center position or right shot defensemen. And those are 2 of the most important positions.