For the amrchair scouts out there, what do you see in Byfield?

  • Thread starter Thread starter s7even
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John a90 said:
yes, yes, I know all of that. You mean to tell me that there's noone else on this Kings team who could move up to that 1st line other than Fiala?
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FWIW, Kopitar has always been a seemingly difficult player to play with. The Kings have tried multiple wingers with him and it's been difficult. Fiala wasnt the first guy they've tried up there, just the most recent. Arvidsson didnt work out there either. Why are we worried about who plays with Kopitar when that line has been on fire? Roll with it.
 
KHenry14 said:
That was a ridiculous play. So good that Kopi almost blew the shot on goal
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He almost blew his shot not because he wasn't expecting it but because the puck got deflected off the guy covering Byfield, so it didn't go where Kopi expected it to go. The fact that he got it at all despite the deflection was a pretty damn good play.
 
santiclaws said:
The most impressive play I've ever seen from him came a couple of days before those, maybe against St. Louis? Other team's defenseman had full control of the puck in the corner, Byfield came in on the forecheck, hit the guy and separated him from the puck, got the puck, shielded it from the defenseman with his body and fired it on the tape to Kopitar(?) in the slot, who buried it. All of that took about a second. I just went "Whoa." How many players in the NHL can make that play? A dozen? Maybe less.
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Lately, it’s almost as if he has given himself permission to be as good as he can be. With Fiala out of the lineup, what a perfect time to become another major contributor to the offense. Of course he will continue to look like Bambi on the pond ice until he gets stronger, but these last 3 or 4 weeks have produced a more involved, more complete player. I’ve definitely learned to like him on that wing.
 
As far as I can tell, the top line is kicking ass!!
A good friend of mine who coached (Jody Zedor) and who's son played AA in Ontario saw Byfield coming up his entire youth career, told me during the draft that QB WILL BE a franchise player at the NHL level, and that it will take him 1-2 seasons to figure it out, and the choice between him or Stutzle is Future franchise player, or immediate impact player. Well, he wasn't wrong on Stutzle, and I doubt he's wrong on QB. QB looks more comfortable all the time, and seeing him learn how to throw is weight around at this level is great to see. The kid is going to dominate.
 
KOPI! PEVS! said:
This thread is just gonna be people arguing about every random good play Byfield has, lol.
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It's very convenient that all these "random good plays" seem to be happening more frequently as he gets more experience. It's almost as if he didn't come into the league as a finished project... :think:
 
Statue4Deano said:
It's very convenient that all these "random good plays" seem to be happening more frequently as he gets more experience. It's almost as if he didn't come into the league as a finished project... :think:
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Your honor, we'd like to call our first witness for the defense. I'm not saying he's not getting better. I'm saying this is a now a dumb thread about arguing pointlessly about every play Byfield is involved with. He's clearly getting better. Nothing to argue about.
 
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KOPI! PEVS! said:
This thread is just gonna be people arguing about every random good play Byfield has, lol.
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But did you see how when he was on the bench and he closed his eyes and then opened em? Real quick like! Ain't never seen someone lubricate their eyeballs in such speedy fashion! TOTAL EYELID CONTROL.... I mean his peepers are going to be PEEPING!
 
I didn't like the way Byfield excited the ice after his third shift in the 1st period, he led with his right foot when I believe his first step up off the ice should have been with his left.
 
KOPI! PEVS! said:
Your honor, we'd like to call our first witness for the defense. I'm not saying he's not getting better. I'm saying this is a now a dumb thread about arguing pointlessly about every play Byfield is involved with. He's clearly getting better. Nothing to argue about.
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I’ve could be wrong but I think the point of this thread was that some people actually didn’t see that he was getting better. At least we’re all on the same page now that he is in fact getting better. Progress!
 
Statue4Deano said:
I’ve could be wrong but I think the point of this thread was that some people actually didn’t see that he was getting better. At least we’re all on the same page now that he is in fact getting better. Progress!
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We're all wrong here. Football is clearly a better sport.
 
I am warming up to his play, as he seems to be asserting himself in the right spots. He still cannot shoot worth a damn, and I am beginning to wonder if he will ever be a legitimate goal scoring threat.
 
DarkLeftHand said:
I am warming up to his play, as he seems to be asserting himself in the right spots. He still cannot shoot worth a damn, and I am beginning to wonder if he will ever be a legitimate goal scoring threat.
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He definitely seems like a center playing wing. His overwhelming instinct is to pass, not beat the goalie. Wonder if that can be coached and developed or how the organization deals with it internally.
 
Stephens has an article out about him. Not a lot of new ground but he's feeling more comfortable for sure.

L.A. Kings’ Quinton Byfield emerges on the first line as the playoffs near

His underlying metrics are much better as, per Natural Stat Trick, his Corsi-for rating in five-on-five play is up from 49.54 last season to 53.39. Other numbers are positive at even strength, where he definitively plays most. He’s been on the ice for 29 goals and 19 against. He has a 108-85 edge when it comes to high-danger chances.

But it’s with Kopitar and Kempe that the difference is striking. The expected goals rate for them with Byfield is 56.06 and 56.42 respectively. Without him, it’s 47.91 and 48.52. The actual goals are more decisive, with Kopitar (25-11) and Kempe (23-9) having a serious advantage since Byfield has joined them full-time.

“When I got the opportunity, I was just really excited to play with those two guys,” Byfield said. “Excited to get more ice time than I previously had. Honestly, I was just super excited for the opportunity. Just wanted to do everything to stay on that line.
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Probably the most important quote of the article though:

“Maybe a year ago, it was more I didn’t want to mess up,” he said. “I didn’t want to make the wrong play so I was kind of just safe and I wouldn’t try stuff like that. But I’m good now.”
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