NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, three important questions facing the Los Angeles Kings.
[Kings 32 in 32: Season preview | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown]
1. Is this when Quinton Byfield excels in the NHL?
The no. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft turned 20 on Aug. 19. He said at development camp in July he used the offseason to work on face-offs, and work with his skating coach 2-3 times a week. He also had frequent video calls with player development coach Jarret Stoll to discuss defensive positioning.
Byfield had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 40 NHL games last season after fracturing his left ankle in a preseason game Oct. 5 and not playing until Jan. 20. He was minus-2, had four penalty minutes and won six of 13 face-offs (46.2 percent) in Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference First Round against the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before he was scratched for the final five games.
“I know I’m a good player and I’ll be there eventually,” Byfield said. “It’s just a little bit of patience and just getting the opportunity as well. I think I’ve still got a ton more to prove and next season I think it’ll be a lot better.”
Video: NSH@LAK: Byfield buries quick one-timer in front
2. Can they continue to mature and evolve?
The Kings look to take another big step this season after reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where they lost in the first round to the Oilers. Trading for Kevin Fiala, who had 85 points (32 goals, 53 assists) for the Minnesota Wild last season, gives them who they hope is a difference-maker. They are also hoping the next of their homegrown prospects break through after the 25-year-old forward Adrian Kempe (No. 29, 2014 NHL Draft) scored an NHL career-high 35 goals last season.
“I think that we were past the rebuild last year and we were trying to start winning games,” forward Trevor Moore said. “We’re really trying to build something here and trying to build a team that can be good for a while. We want to continue to take those next steps and put ourselves in a good position to make the (Stanley Cup Playoffs) and go from there.”
3. How will they sort out the left side defenseman?
Mikey Anderson remains a restricted free agent, but he and Alexander Edler should be locked. Then it’s an open competition between Sean Walker, Tobias Bjornfot, Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke.
Walker is expected to be ready for training camp after having surgery for a torn ACL and MCL six games into last season. The extra time Walker may need to be ready could create an opportunity for Clarke. The 19-year-old, chosen in the first round (No. 8) of the 2021 NHL Draft, was one of three Ontario Hockey League defensemen to average more than one point per game (59 points; 11 goals, 48 assists in 55 games) in 2021-22.
“I think he can (start this season in the NHL),” Kings director of player personnel Nelson Emerson said. “He’s an extreme talent and he plays the game, he makes plays, he makes the forwards better, he makes his ‘D’ partners better. We are very excited, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he pushes people in camp and gives give us a long, long look.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Dan Greenspan contributed to this report
.