It’s not always an easy decision when it comes to whether or not a player should join the World Junior Championships or stay healthy and ready to potentially join an NHL camp. We’ve already seen some teams decline to send their prospects — such as New York with Alexis Lafreniere and Detroit with Moritz Seider. Others, like the Los Angeles Kings, are taking a different approach.
Related: LA Kings Select Quinton Byfield 2nd Overall – NHL Draft 2020
The Kings have decided that second-overall draft selection in 2020, Quinton Byfield will not be joining the Kings roster if the World Junior Championship tournament happens to overlap with the NHL season. They’ve decided that they’d rather Byfield play for Team Canada, finish things out there, then join the Kings afterward if that’s how things play out.
Byfield told reporters on Thursday, including Scott Wheeler of The Athletic that Byfield “won’t be leaving Team Canada” and “spoke with Rob Blake and the plan is for him to participate in the tournament regardless.”
This is great news for Team Canada as Byfield is coming off an incredible season with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL and is expected to be a big part of this Canadian roster. He scored 32 goals and 82 points in 45 games this past season and while he didn’t produce much the last time he played for Team Canada, this go-round the expectations are much different. Byfield was on the first line today for Team Red.
Kings See This As Good For His Development
Byfield said he knows he has to earn a big role for Team Canada but he wants it. The Kings must know he’s going to get a bigger role and feel it will be good for his development as one of their top prospects.
If he’s a big part of their offense, he’ll come into the LA Kings room with confidence as a rookie and that’s nothing but good as he’s expected to compete for a spot on the Kings team in 2020/21.
Next: Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 NHL Roster is Bursting with Possibilities
