While meaningful playing time in the NHL could be a longshot, LA Kings’ second overall pick Quinton Byfield is ranked within the NHL’s top 250 fantasy players.
Fresh off being drafted second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Quinton Byfield is ready to get to work. He’s been inundated with interviews with everyone and anyone wanting to get to know the newest member of the LA Kings.
On Friday, Byfield signed his three-year entry-level contract. He’s expected to spend the bulk of the year in either the OHL or some league below the NHL. The 18-year-old might very well start Opening Night and play a handful of games before being sent down. It would be exciting for the organization, but it would also prevent the clock from starting on his ELC.
Despite the expected limited action at the NHL level, NHL.com recently ranked him as the 203rd best player in their top-250 fantasy rankings. To provide perspective, he ranks just ahead of Chicago’s Duncan Keith and just below New Jersey’s Nico Hischier. And just for fun, first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere comes in at number 96 on the list, but he’s expected to start and remain with the Rangers.
As far as who else is represented on the Kings, Anze Kopitar is number 60, Drew Doughty number 123, Jonathan Quick number 197, Alex Turcotte number 217, Alex Iafallo number 232, Cal Petersen number 233.
Wow. Ok. A lot to unpack here.
Turcotte was taken fifth overall in 2019 and is expected to begin the 2020-2021 season in Ontario. There’s definitely a scenario where he sees time with the Kings next year, especially with him getting a head start training and playing in preseason games in Germany.
The Kings organization hopes that Kopitar returns to a 30+ goal scorer after tallying just 21 goals last season. As a team, LA did not do a great job of lighting the lamp, so contributions from everywhere will be openly welcomed.
Aside from Byfield and Turcotte showing up on this list, perhaps the next surprising is Petersen. After playing in only 8 games last year, he and Jonathan Quick are likely to split the starts in net next year.
Will it be 50-50 or a slight advantage for Quick? That remains to be determined, and the schedule for next season could end up playing a significant factor, especially if there are major back-to-backs than usual.