Kings select hulking center Quinton Byfield 2nd overall
The Los Angeles Kings selected Quinton Byfield with the second overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
With the pick, Byfield made NHL history by being the highest-ever drafted Black player, according to The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark.
Quinton Byfield
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 214 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 32 | 50 | 82 |
(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)
Byfield is a gifted player. He possesses tremendous size and reach but moves around the ice with extreme ease. His incredibly soft hands and elite puck protection allow him to generate scoring chances at will, and a heavy shot sees him finish at a high rate. He's also blessed with great playmaking ability.
Despite his size, Byfield's not overly physical defensively, but he makes up for it with a strong, active stick and impressive anticipation. However, he sometimes lacks engagement on both sides of the ice, specifically on defense. He also tends to try and cheat for offensive chances instead of staying behind the puck.
All of Byfield's weaknesses can easily be fixed with the help of professional coaching. He'll easily develop into a legitimate No. 1 center as long as his own engine doesn't get in the way. His ceiling actually may be higher than Alexis Lafreniere's, but his floor is significantly lower.
What they're saying
Byfield has received numerous comparisons to Evgeni Malkin. TSN's Craig Button is the most prominent draft analyst to do so, calling Byfield a "Malkin clone" last summer. He also said Byfield has "Evgeni Malkin hands" ahead of the world juniors.
The Athletic's Corey Pronman didn't make any player comparisons in his scouting report, but he said Byfield has "truly elite hands" and that his skating ability is the foundation of his game. That has Malkin written all over it.