For Byfield and Kaliyev, the LA Kings should say no to the OHL
With the OHL expected to begin an abbreviated season soon, the LA Kings have a big decision to make regarding Quinton Byfield and Arthur Kaliyev. In fact, it is a really easy one.
Although not official just yet, it looks like the Ontario Hockey League will attempt to get a shortened season in which would begin soon. For draft prospects, this is great news, but for the LA Kings, it presents a bit of a conundrum.
Per an agreement between the National Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League (the overall governing body of the Western Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the Ontario Hockey League), any player under the age of 20 that plays in one of these three leagues must either play in the NHL or CHL – they are not eligible for the American Hockey League. This agreement is in place to help the Canadian Hockey League remain viable by protecting its interests in its young stars. This agreement expires at the end of this season.
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While the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has been playing, and the Western Hockey League has recently begun as well, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) remained dormant. This actually worked out for the LA Kings since the Ontario Hockey League was not operating. The CHL/NHL agreement was waived – allowing Quinton Byfield and Arthur Kaliyev to play for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League. Otherwise, they would have had to return to their OHL teams since they are both under the age of twenty.
With the Ontario Hockey League return to play imminent, the LA Kings have two choices regarding Byfield and Kaliyev. They either have to send them back to the OHL or bring them up to the NHL. They can no longer play in the American Hockey League. The answer to what they should do is bring both up to Los Angeles, and here’s why.
Playing lesser competition will not help their development.
This is not a knock against the Ontario Hockey League, or the Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, for that matter. It boils down to whether they are going to get better by playing against lesser competition than what they have already been playing against in the AHL? The answer, simply put, is no.
Anyone watching Ontario Regin hockey this season would certainly say the team’s first thirteen games were not very good – in fact, they were terrible. The Reign’s record for those first thirteen games was 1-10-2, and the teams struggles certainly affected both Byfield’s and Kaliyev’s numbers: here are their stat lines for those thirteen games:
- Byfield: 1 goal, 6 assists, 24 shots on goal, -15
- Kaliyev: 1 goal, 5 assists, 36 shots on goal, -2
These numbers certainly do not warrant a promotion to Los Angeles (although Kalyiev did get a one-game cup of coffee), as a matter of fact, if the decision had to be made at that point, Byfield and Kaliyev would have most likely been going back to the OHL. The switch has flipped, however, and the Reign have been lights out, winning five out of their last six games. As a result, Byfield’s and Kaliyev’s stat lines have dramatically improved as well.
- Byfield: 4 goals, 2 assists, 9 shots on goal, 0 +/-
- Kaliyev: 6 goals, 2 assists, 14 shots on goal, +3
Now that’s more like it! After looking lost on the ice at times during those first thirteen games, it appears both Byfield and Kaliyev are starting to acclimate to the American Hockey League in a big way. Keep in mind. This is considered to be the second or third best league in the world (depends on who you ask). To send these two down to a league now with 16, 17, and 18-year-olds playing in it does absolutely nothing for their development – it could actually hinder it.
Simply put, they will absolutely dominate the competition, and without being challenged, there is a great risk of complacency, which could very well create bad habits. To become better players, Byfield and Kaliyev (or any other player for that matter) need to play against the best competition available to them. Since spring is almost here, I’ll use a baseball comparison – think of it as sending a varsity high school pitcher back to Little League to “work on his stuff.”
An overall +/- of -15 for Quinton Byfield could be a concern, even though that number came from a time when his team was playing terribly. If he needs to work on his defensive game, there is a certain defensive-minded, MVP caliber center in Los Angeles that could help him out with that.
LA will be a tremendous learning experience for Byfield and Kaliyev.
A reason for sending Byfield and Kaliyev back to the OHL this season is often given is concern over burning the first year of their entry-level contracts. To put it simply, they can be brought up to the LA Kings and avoid burning the first year of their entry-level deals.
It has everything to do with the number of games they would play in Los Angeles. Byfield can play seven games in the NHL, while Kaliyev can play six before the first year of their ELC’s kick in. With the team normally carrying fourteen forwards, two current roster players would have to be sent to either the taxi squad or Ontario.
Let’s say Blake Lizotte and Austin Wagner are the candidates to be moved to make room. The Kings would risk losing either or both to waivers, and while it’s usually never good to lose players for nothing, the team might actually benefit as it would open contract space as they are nearing the 50 contract limit.
In this scenario, Byfield and Kaliyev would act as the extra forwards. Coach Todd McLellan could then get Byfield his six games and Kaliyev his five games at his discretion. If the LA Kings get hit with injuries and Byfield and Kaliyev are at or near their game limit, then simply backfill from Ontario or the taxi squad. It might require roster gymnastics, but if Byfield’s and Kaliyev’s games are spaced out strategically, it can be done.
The huge benefit of having Byfield and Kaliyev with the LA Kings as opposed to the OHL isn’t even the games they would play – it is the NHL practice and coaching time they would get. Learning from veterans like Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and the Kings coaching staff is far more beneficial than dominating the Ontario Hockey League, not to mention the exposure of what life is like at the NHL level and what to expect.
Another point to keep in mind, if they were to go to the OHL, Byfield and Kaliyev will have to quarantine for two full weeks, meaning they lose fourteen days of hockey after already losing half of a season due to pandemic circumstances.
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In conclusion, the benefits of having Quinton Byfield and Arthur Kaliyev in LA far outweigh the benefits of having them go back to the OHL. While I’m sure that they enjoyed their time in the OHL, Byfield and Kaliyev would like it this way as well.