I’ve heard this point made before. Not being a local resident, I was wondering why you think this is. Beyond the obvious tax questions, I mean it’s hard to compete with states like Nevada or Florida, is that all there is to it? Is it a team culture/identity issue? Something else?
Congrats to QB!!!
- Thread starter hokiecat
- Start date
LAKingSteve
Super Star
I watch QB closely when he's on the ice and he doesn't seem to exhibit a high hockey IQ at times. Very odd decisions with the puck...poor passes, indecision. He's so big but gets knocked off the puck way too easy and often or just fails to control the puck on his stick way too often. And as others have said, he really needs to start shooting the puck. Almost always feels like he's looking to pass first. I'm still hopeful he will develop but to beat a dead horse, the Kings clearly missed on this pick if they thought he would be a number 1 center.
Last edited:
LAKingSteve
Super Star
That's the million dollar answer. I've seen many hockey pundits say the tax thing isn't an issue...they want to go where they can win. Marner likely didn't pick Vegas because of the taxes. They are winners every year as they have a superior GM that will make the tough moves like getting rid of popular players to reload or signing guys like Eichel, who many thought was a risk due to his neck issues. I'd choose living in Manhattan Beach over Vegas all day.
I think it's a culture and style of play thing right now. A guy like Marner doesn't want to play in LA where he's likely expected to be thinking Defense first. And then there's the first round playoff exit futility. Team hasn't done anything to show they can get past a first round opponent and the moves made have arguably made the team worse. The team may very well have a poor reputation in the front office as well.
DryKing
Power Forward
Agreed, but also to counter that this is the first season he is playing regularly against the opposing team's top line.
Let's take a look at where he was and where he is now:
23/24 - establishes himself as a top 6 winger
24/25 - establishes himself as a full-time NHL center (middle 6)
25/26 - getting his first taste as a top top 6 while regularly facing the opposing team's top line - realistically he has supplanted Kopi this season
Based on his growth rate, and assuming he finally gets paired with the Kings top winger (Kempe) in 26/27, including remaining deficiencies, imo he projects to breakout during the 27/28 - which is quite a bit farther than initially expected.
Granted this is not ideal, but the Kings also did not do a lot of speed his development.
MiketheKing
Super Star
It struck me that Byfield reminds me of Athinsaeau, a journeyman player with height, abundant speed, and a few flashes of greatness...but overall isn't a gamechanger. While QB's ceiling is much higher, so far I'm consistently unimpressed and worry about his development as a number 2 overall.
Dr. Tran
Super Star
Right now QB is the center who's matched up against the top opposing centers. He's also the center who's expected to score the most. Maybe that's a mistake. Maybe it's too much for him to take on both roles at the same time. And I know Kopitar's been doing it for 20 years. But Kopi's a hall of famer. And QB's not Kopi. He's also in his 3rd full season. I don't think we should expect QB to be Kopitar, especially when we're comparing QB in this part of his career to Kopi in his prime.
symbology
TEAM LGK
Good points, but I think will disagree that he is expected to score the most. He is expected to score though. Reason why I do not feel that he is expected to score the most is that he has rarely centered the Kings top winger. He is expected to score, and he is has not been doing that consistently enough for a while.
It is not really fair to compare QB to AK and I would say that people have forgotten some of Kopi's growing pains. However, it is totally fair to compare QB to other young centers/players in the league and to expect more from him at this time in his career.
VCRW
Classic player
At this point, I would rather see him as a first line winger than as a 2C/3C. He had his best offensive year at LW. He is not now and probably won’t ever be a true 1C. Too random for the big time.
DryKing
Power Forward
Yeah I agree with you. I can't tell if the Kings are playing him at center out of necessity (especially with Kopi's upcoming retirement) or because they think he really belongs there.
He has been improving at Center, but still, to your point, stronger at wing.
VCRW
Classic player
I think Hiller has some sort of man-crush on QB. You won’t find another center in the NHL with his dismal offensive numbers playing at 1C and receiving all that TOI. I see Q as more like Handzus with speed… but no one ever suggested playing Handzus at 1C. His ceiling is 2C. He benefits the offense best at LW1.
DryKing
Power Forward
Lol I probably have it too. Everything says he is ready to breakout, it just never seems to happen (at Center).
Analytic metrics rank him overall positively. What he is lacking is, as others have called out, finish. If he can start converting more of the high danger chances into goals, he will be deadly.
I agree, though, that he ranks in the 2C category right now but I really think that will change after Kopitar retires Rationale being: He continues to learn to process the game faster, he will have a full season of playing against the opposing team's top line, his faceoff % is beginning to improve, he will still have top end speed and be able to generate above average (near elite) high threat opportunities, he will continue to play a strong 2-way game (2-way game today really high end - good call out regarding the Handzus comparison), and he should finally be paired with the Kings top winger (who he already has strong chemistry with).
That's not to say he isn't a better fit for LW, however. If we look at his time at LW (granted these are just limited stats), it's pretty comparable but his conversion rate was much higher. We do need to caveat this, however, that he was on a line with the Kings top C and RW.
Quinton Byfield Stats | NHL EDGE | NHL.com
The next generation of advanced stats is here! Daily updates based on last night's action keep you coming back for more. Explore NHL EDGE 2.0's all-new zone maps, data visualizations, player spotlights and player comparisons based on the NHL's exclusive, cutting-edge player & puck tracking data.
www.nhl.com
Dr. Tran
Super Star
I should’ve clarified I was talking strictly about centers. Between him, Kopi, Turcotte, Helenius, & Danault when he was here, he’s who we expected to lead in scoring. And he is in goals & points. But he’s not up to where we thought he would be. Part of that’s the construction of this team. Which isn’t Holland’s fault, it’s Blake’s. But he’s now responsible for fixing it. I also think it’s a mistake to compare him to other young players. Not everyone can be Celebrini. He’s his own player & his progress is different.
symbology
TEAM LGK
Lol I probably have it too. Everything says he is ready to breakout, it just never seems to happen (at Center).
Analytic metrics rank him overall positively. What he is lacking is, as others have called out, finish. If he can start converting more of the high danger chances into goals, he will be deadly.
I agree, though, that he ranks in the 2C category right now but I really think that will change after Kopitar retires Rationale being: He continues to learn to process the game faster, he will have a full season of playing against the opposing team's top line, his faceoff % is beginning to improve, he will still have top end speed and be able to generate above average (near elite) high threat opportunities, he will continue to play a strong 2-way game (2-way game today really high end - good call out regarding the Handzus comparison), and he should finally be paired with the Kings top winger (who he already has strong chemistry with).
That's not to say he isn't a better fit for LW, however. If we look at his time at LW (granted these are just limited stats), it's pretty comparable but his conversion rate was much higher. We do need to caveat this, however, that he was on a line with the Kings top C and RW.
View attachment 13639
View attachment 13640
Quinton Byfield Stats | NHL EDGE | NHL.com
The next generation of advanced stats is here! Daily updates based on last night's action keep you coming back for more. Explore NHL EDGE 2.0's all-new zone maps, data visualizations, player spotlights and player comparisons based on the NHL's exclusive, cutting-edge player & puck tracking data.
As far as points go, QB is more like a 2C/3C. He would be around 70th in the league in points for centers.
I may complain about QB's play, but I am not ready to give up on him.