Center Quinton Byfield and defenseman Brandt Clarke are two of the key pieces of the Los Angeles Kings' young core going into the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Byfield and Clarke are expected to take on more significant responsibilities in their respective roles for new head coach Peter Laviolette and the Kings this upcoming season.
Sportsnet recently put together a hypothetical under-25 Canadian roster. And despite how deep the talent pool of Canadian players is, two Kings players made this team: Byfield and Clarke.
Quinton Byfield lands on a loaded U-25 Team Canada forward group
Byfield was a big inclusion on this list, as one of the prominent forwards in the top six on this hypothetical U-25 Canadian team. He was slotted on the top forward line with the San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini and the Utah Mammoth's Dylan Guenther.
Since the Kings are looking to elevate Byfield into the No. 1 center role entering training camp and the preseason this fall, the connection is relevant here with this piece from Sportsnet. After the retirement of Anze Kopitar this offseason, Byfield will be centering the Kings' top forward line this upcoming season, playing alongside star wingers Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe.
Brandt Clarke makes the cut on Canada's blue line
In this piece, Clarke is projected to be on the second defensive pairing on the blue line for Canada alongside Buffalo Sabres' Owen Power. Clarke is actually the only defenseman from the Pacific Division in this projected top-six group on Sportsnet's U-25 Team Canada roster.
Clarke is coming off an impressive career high 40 point season, including eight goals. His inclusion on this hypothetical Canada roster is a good reflection of how high many people still think of his offensive ceiling to be.
That will be important as Clarke is expected to take another step toward becoming a top-flight defenseman in the Western Conference in the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Both Byfield and Clarke still have plenty to prove before either of them would be considered a lock for an actual Team Canada roster. But their recognition and inclusion in Sportsnet's hypothetical U-25 roster lineup just goes to show how highly regarded both players are amidst the NHL's young Canadian talent.
And more importantly for the Kings, Byfield and Clarke are two players who will be asked to take on significantly greater responsibilies as the franchise moves into a new era in the upcoming 2026-27 season.
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