Kings sign forward Quinton Byfield to five-year contract extension (AAV: $6,250,000)

The Los Angeles Kings have signed forward Quinton Byfield to a five-year contract extension, carrying an AAV of $6,250,000 at the NHL level. Byfield’s contract keeps him with the organization through the end of the 2028-29 season.

Byfield emerged this season as an impact player with the Kings, a strong step towards becoming the player I think most people believe he can be. 20 goals and 55 points, while delivering all of the things he did the season prior, only this time it came with the offensive production. It was an important step forward for Byfield, who has more steps still to take, but he put together all of the parts of his game this past season. He was an impact player for the Kings last season and now he’ll be an impact player for the Kings in each of the next five seasons, and hopefully beyond.

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As it turns out, Byfield’s deal actually was not a bridge deal or an eight-year, maximum-length deal. It’s a five-year extension at a fair price, one that works without any issue for the Kings under the salary cap for this season or beyond, while buying one of his unrestricted free agent years in the process. The Byfield contract was the most important move the Kings needed to make this summer and now they’ve made it. They’ve got their young cornerstone piece locked in for the next five seasons with hopes that Byfield will continue to progress as a center going forward, as a player who can drive his own line, upping his own production and making those around him better in the process. It’s a solid bet to make on a player who has been trending towards that level of impact over the last season and a half, since he cracked the NHL on a regular basis.

This past season, Byfield was a 5-on-5 offensive machine. His 37 points playing at 5-on-5 were tied for the second most on the Kings this season. Byfield collected a point on 78.7 percent of the goals he was on the ice for this past season, which was well above the 51.4 percent he had in the 2022-23 campaign. Byfield’s 0.84 primary assists per/60 led the Kings, as did his 1.4 assists overall. For all the talk of his goalscoring output in 2022-23, Byfield scored 20 this past season and that included a dip down the stretch as he fought through a longer-term illness. Highlight reel goals were certainly included and Byfield was one of the Kings who did bring their best in the postseason. The thing with Byfield, too, is that he doesn’t cheat for his offense. Statistically speaking, Byfield was among the team’s most impactful players defensively as well, both in terms of goals against and chance suppression metrics. It was great to see that stride forward from Byfield and there’s more to come.

Looking ahead, the Kings likely see Byfield playing center. As much was said after the team traded Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals, a move that paved the way for Byfield to be an impact center this season. Byfield has stated on numerous occasions he also saw himself as a center long term and is comfortable playing both positions. The team always maintained a similar approach, though it’s not that there is an opening for him to take. In whatever order, it’ll likely be Kopitar – Danault – Byfield down the middle, with each center expected to help drive his own line. On any given night, the minutes between those players could be in whichever order. We could see Byfield paired with Kevin Fiala on what could be a very exciting offensive line, with Warren Foegele touted as a potential third member. Byfield and Foegele train together in the offseason and Foegele was quick to dish out praise for his now teammate when we spoke earlier this month.

For now, it’s exciting to lock in a key piece of the future for the next five seasons. With several high-profile restricted free agents around the NHL still unsigned, it’s nice for the Kings and Byfield to get their business done early, if for no other reason than peace of mind.

Looking at who is left to sign, the Kings have three remaining restricted free agents – Jordan Spence, Arthur Kaliyev and Erik Portillo.

In looking at the players currently in the mix to play with the NHL club, the Kings have between 2.5 and 3 million dollars remaining in salary-cap space to sign Spence specifically and carry a 23-player roster. Plenty of flexibility to lock in Spence for sure, with a nice raise, while maintaining a ton of cap flexibility for future moves, whether that be this summer or during the season. On Kaliyev or Portillo, their contracts would likely not impact that number very much, as it would be a contract in, contract out situation for Kaliyev or likely a start in the AHL for Portillo.

From the team’s official release –

Byfield, 21, played in 80 games last season, establishing career-highs in games played, goals (20), assists (35), points (55), power-play goals (6), power-play points (14) and game-winning goals (4) with a plus-19 rating, the third-highest on the team and highest among any team forward. Byfield is the third Kings player in the last 20 years to record 20 goals in a season at age 21 or younger (Anze Kopitar; 32G in 2007-08, 27 in 2008-09 & 20 in 2006-07 and Alex Frolov; 24 in 2003-04), and 10th overall in franchise history. He also added four assists (0-4=4) in five Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

The second overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, Byfield became the 31st player in franchise history to score in their 100th career game on Oct. 11, 2023. He also recorded a career-long six-game assist streak (0-9=9) from Oct. 31 – Nov. 11 to become the fourth skater 21 years of age or younger in team history to establish an assist streak of at least six games, and first since Jimmy Carson’s six-game span (3-8=11) in 1987-88.

The 6-5, 225-pound forward’s 35 assists and 55 points last season ranked fifth and fourth in the league, respectively, among skaters under 22 years of age. Byfield tallied five multi-goal outings, tied for most on the team with Trevor Moore, and for most in the league among all skaters 21 years of age or younger. In doing so, Byfield became one of six skaters in franchise history to have five or more multi-goal games in a single season before turning 22 years old, and the first to do so in over 30 years (Jimmy Carson, nine times in 1987-88).

Byfield made his NHL debut on April 28, 2021, against Anaheim at 18 years and 252 days old, making him the sixth-youngest player to ever appear in a game for the Kings. Since then, Byfield has accumulated 28 goals and 60 assists for 88 points (28-60=88) in 179 career NHL games. With his 88 points in that span, he is the 10th skater in franchise history to record at least 80 career points before turning 22 years old – a list led by Anze Kopitar (79-125=204 in 236 GP). Byfield has also appeared in 59 games over parts of three seasons with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL), collecting 41 points (21-20=41).

Prior to turning pro, Byfield posted 143 points (61-82=143) in 109 games over two seasons with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), along with eight points (3-5=8) in eight postseason appearances. During that span, he was named to the 2019-20 OHL Third All-Star Team, served as team captain in the CHL Top Prospects Game, was awarded the 2018-19 CHL Rookie of the Year, OHL Rookie of the Year and chosen to the OHL First All-Rookie Team after finishing the season with 61 points (29-32=61) in 64 games.

The Newmarket, Ontario native has represented Canada on multiple occasions, most recently at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship where he tallied seven points (2-5=7) in seven games on his way to winning the silver medal. He also won gold in the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship where he was the youngest plyer named to their gold medal-winning roster, earned silver in the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.