The LA Kings have signed Quinton Byfield to a five-year extension price a mean annual worth of $6.25 million. The 21-year-old restricted free agent had his breakout yr in 2023-24, scoring 20 objectives and 55 factors.
Byfield was chosen second total within the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, and after endurance from the Kings group, he made the bounce to a full-time NHL participant final season. Byfield performed in elements of three seasons earlier than making that transition, nevertheless it appears like it’ll repay in his long-term growth.
As a 6-foot-5 middle, Byfield had an plain quantity of expertise, however mixing that collectively together with his dimension and different talents, taking an additional yr or two is widespread for a participant together with his toolset.
Kings Might Get Cut price From This Deal
Inking Byfield to a five-year deal saved the worth decrease than it might have been on a maximum-term deal of eight years. Byfield, who grabbed ahold of a much bigger function because the season progressed, is simply scratching the floor of what he’s able to. His offensive skillset, whether or not or not it’s his harmful shot or artistic playmaking, is certain to take one other step as quickly because the 2024-25 season.
Paying a younger, gifted ahead $6.25 million with the practical hopes of him being round a point-per-game participant for all 5 years of the deal is unbelievable worth. As talked about, the five-year time period helped hold the cap hit decrease than it may have been, and this contract buys one yr of unrestricted free agent (UFA) rights.
Associated: Predicting Quinton Byfield’s Subsequent Contract With the Kings
When the contract expires, Byfield will probably be a 26-year-old UFA, which may very well be a little bit of a pink flag when analyzing the contract, however all indicators level in the direction of Byfield liking the Kings group and that isn’t a problem to fret about for now.
Byfield is a pure middle however is prone to find yourself as a winger on the highest line alongside Anze Kopitar for almost all of his deal. The Kings’ middle depth is among the finest within the league, and with Phillip Danault taking the shut-down function, Byfield could be simpler on the wing than deeper within the lineup at middle.
Kopitar has two seasons left on his deal, bringing him to 38 years previous. This will probably be an ideal transition time for Byfield to actually set up himself as a star after which take excessive middle function for the Kings. A mid-term size deal wasn’t one thing many individuals speculated on, however there are a whole lot of positives to take from the five-year deal. A bridge deal to let him set up himself extra may have value the group upwards of $3 million on his subsequent contract, whereas a long-term deal comes with extra danger, however may have paid off.
Each the Kings and Byfield ought to be pleased with this deal, as ought to the fanbase. Once more, the one pink flag is that it brings him to UFA standing, however that isn’t one thing to be involved about 5 years forward of time.
