The Los Angeles Kings have locked up an important piece of their puzzle for the significant future, as Quinton Byfield signed a five-year extension with the team Monday.
A pending restricted free agent after the end of next season, Byfield will earn an AAV of $6.25-million over the length of the deal, according to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.
Drafted by the Kings second overall in the 2020 draft, it didn’t take long for the 6’5, 216 lb. forward to break into the NHL. He turned pro the following year as the Ontario Hockey League was shutdown due to COVID, playing 32 games for the AHL’s Ontario Reign scoring eight goals and 20 points, while also getting a six-game cup of coffee in the NHL, where he scored his first point.
Despite a dozen-odd games in the AHL over the next two seasons, Byfield spent the majority of his time with the big club in Los Angeles, finding his way in the NHL, scoring eight goals and 32 points in 93 games.
But last year was a breakout campaign for the native of Newmarket, Ont., getting a significant bump in ice-time that he made the most of, scoring 20 goals and 55 points in 80 games, chipping in four assists in five playoff games.
Byfield projects to be a long-term staple up the middle of the ice for the Kings, who are buying one year of free agency. He will earn signing bonus’ in each of the first three years, according to PuckPedia, with his only trade protection coming in the form of a 10-team no-trade list in the final year of the deal.
Against the Oilers, Byfield has found ways to produce, scoring three goals and seven points in 10 regular season games, and a goal and eight points in 13 playoff games.

Hyman among the best NHL contracts

Oilers fans know all too well the value Zach Hyman has provided to the team since signing his seven-year, $5.5-millon AAV deal in the summer of 2021.
In each of the three years he’s played in Edmonton, he’s set career highs in different offensive categories that culminated in a 54-goal, 77-point campaign this past year. He’s shown an ability to be so much more than just a top-six player, instead being one who drives play in a big way for the Oilers.
On Monday, The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn wrote about the 10 best-value contracts in the entire league, listing Hyman as No. 8, highlighting how according to his model, the value he’s providing to Edmonton is equal to that of a player earning a $11.3-million salary.
Who would’ve thought when Zach Hyman signed a seven-year deal with the Oilers three years ago that it would land on this list and not the other one?
While Hyman looked to be a strong complementary player at the time, seven years felt like a long time, especially given his playing style. Models loved him, though questions regarding how much of his impact should be credited to his more famous linemates instead were valid.
Three years later, there’s no denying that Hyman might be one of the best free-agent signings ever, a star forward on a bargain deal well below his worth — and one of the best deals in hockey. Scoring 54 goals will certainly have that effect.
With Hyman, there are still some questions regarding the McDavid Effect, but anyone not giving Hyman his flowers at this point isn’t paying close enough attention.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.

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