The Kings are already locked into the second spot in the Pacific division, so it's unclear whether they are simply being cautious with Byfield or if he's truly unable to play. Anze Kopitar, Mikey Anderson, and Drew Doughty will also join him in the press box on Tuesday.
After a breakout season in 2023-24 which saw Byfield put up career highs with 55 points (20G/35A) in 80 games played, the 21-year-old has earned himself a five-year, $31.25 million extension ($6,250,000) with Los Angeles. Byfield was Los Angeles 2020 1st round pick (2nd overall) and has 88 points (28G/60A) in 179 career NHL games played.
After missing two straight games with an illness, Byfield will draw back into the lineup for the Kings on Wednesday evening. Before his injury, Byfield was riding a three-game point streak, with four points (2G / 2A) while playing on the top line, as he has for most of the season, with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
Byfield will come out of the Kings lineup for their game in Colorado on Friday. With Byfield unavailable, Arthur Kaliyev will draw back into the Kings lineup and Alex Laferriere will move up to the top line with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
Byfield had nine goals, six assists, 18 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in 16 games with Ontario (AHL) but will head back up to Los Angeles where he had three assists in eight games to start the year.
It was announced Friday that Byfield will miss the Los Angeles game Saturday vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs due to illness. Byfield has yet to score in 2022-23, but has three assists and a -1 rating through his first eight games.
It looks like Byfield will replace Rasmus Kupari in the Kings' bottom-6 on Thursday. Byfield has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but re-enters with eight points (5G / 3A) in 36 games this season.
With Andreas Athanasiou and Brendan Lemieux expected to be back in the Kings lineup on Saturday, Byfield and Gabriel Vilardi will be healthy scratches.
Byfield missed the start of the season with an injury and went straight to the AHL when he was healthy. The 19-year-old picked up four goals and two assists (six points) in 11 games with Ontario.
Byfield was the No.2 overall pick in this year's draft and he's set to make his NHL debut on Wednesday. Byfield, who is expected to centre the third line, scored eight goals with 12 assists (20 points) in 30 AHL games in 2021.
