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Quinton Byfield

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Quinton Byfield
Byfield with the Los Angeles Kings in 2023
Born (2002-08-19) August 19, 2002 (age 23)
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
NHL team Los Angeles Kings
NHL draft 2nd overall, 2020
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2021–present

Quinton Byfield (born August 19, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Byfield was selected second overall by the Kings in the 2020 NHL entry draft, the highest-drafted black player in NHL history.[1] He made his NHL debut with the Kings in 2021.

Early life

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Byfield is the son of Clinton Byfield, who is Jamaican,[1] and Nicole Kasper, who is Canadian.[2] His parents met when his mom was a student at the University of Toronto and his dad had just moved from Jamaica to Toronto.[3] He was raised with his oldest sister, Chloe, in a Toronto suburb, and also has an older half-sister.[3] Although neither his mom nor dad played hockey when they were younger,[1][2] his parents built an ice rink in their backyard so that his friends and he could play hockey.[2]

As a teenager, Byfield was named the 2002 Division's All-Tournament Most Valuable Player At Pro-Am's 2015 Mini Chowder Cup.[4] At the age of 15, he played AAA hockey in the Toronto area and first met former NHL player Gary Roberts, who encouraged him to join his training and development program.[3]

Career

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Byfield was drafted first overall by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2018 OHL draft and won both OHL Rookie of the Year and CHL Rookie of the Year.[5] In 2018–19, he put up 29 goals and 61 points in 64 games.[6]

Byfield during warmups on Los Angeles Kings Pride night in 2022

After his second overall selection in the 2020 NHL entry draft, Byfield was signed by the Los Angeles Kings to a three-year, entry-level contract on October 16, 2020.[7] He was assigned to the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) roster to begin the 2020–21 season where he played on a line with Akil Thomas and Devante Smith-Pelly. His line became the first all-Black line in professional ice hockey since Herb Carnegie, Ossie Carnegie, and Manny McIntyre in the 1940s. During their first game together, Thomas recorded a natural hat-trick and his line combined for six points in the eventual win.[8] On April 28, 2021, Byfield made his NHL debut in a 3–2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.[9] He recorded his first NHL point on May 5, 2021, in a 4–2 win over the Arizona Coyotes.[10]

In October 2021, Byfield fractured his ankle, keeping him from joining the Kings.[11] Byfield eventually returned to the NHL level on January 20, 2022.[12] He scored his first NHL goal in a matchup against the New York Islanders on January 27, in a 3–2 win over the New York Islanders.[13] On April 25, 2023, Byfield scored his first NHL playoff goal in a 6–3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.[14] On July 15, 2024, Byfield, a restricted free agent, signed a five-year, $31.25 million contract extension with the Kings.[15]

International play

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Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2020 Czech Republic
Silver medal – second place 2021 Canada

Byfield won a silver medal at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.[16] Byfield won a Gold Medal with Canada at the 2020 World Junior Championships held in the Czech Republic, posting one assist in seven games. Byfield won a silver medal with Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championships held in Canada, posting two goals and five assists for seven points in seven games.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Newmarket Hurricanes OJHL 1 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Sudbury Wolves OHL 64 29 32 61 38 8 3 5 8 16
2019–20 Sudbury Wolves OHL 45 32 50 82 44 — — — — —
2020–21 Ontario Reign AHL 32 8 12 20 24 1 0 0 0 0
2020–21 Los Angeles Kings NHL 6 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2021–22 Ontario Reign AHL 11 4 2 6 10 — — — — —
2021–22 Los Angeles Kings NHL 40 5 5 10 20 2 0 0 0 4
2022–23 Ontario Reign AHL 16 9 6 15 18 — — — — —
2022–23 Los Angeles Kings NHL 53 3 19 22 30 6 1 3 4 2
2023–24 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 20 35 55 42 5 0 4 4 4
2024–25 Los Angeles Kings NHL 81 23 31 54 46 6 3 1 4 2
NHL totals 260 51 91 142 140 19 4 8 12 12

International

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Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Canada Black U17 5 2 1 3 12
2019 Canada HG18 5 3 2 5 4
2020 Canada WJC 7 0 1 1 4
2021 Canada WJC 7 2 5 7 4
Junior totals 24 7 9 16 24

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
OHL
Emms Family Award 2019
CHL
CHL Rookie of the Year 2019

References

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  1. ^ a b c Wyshynski, Greg (October 6, 2020). "Los Angeles Kings select Quinton Byfield, highest-drafted Black player in NHL history". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Harris, Jack (October 7, 2020). "Kings' Quinton Byfield wants to be a role model for other Black hockey players". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Burnside, Scott (April 13, 2025). "Path To The Throne – Quinton Byfield". LA Kings Insider. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  4. ^ "NEPAHL Alum Quinton Byfield makes NHL history". minicc.proamhockey.com. October 9, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  5. ^ Kerr, Ben. "2020 NHL Draft – An Early Look and Rankings". Last Word on Hockey. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  6. ^ Morreale, Mike. "Lafreniere headlines 2020 NHL Draft prospects". NHL. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  7. ^ "LA Kings sing Quinton Byfield to three-year, entry-level contract". Los Angeles Kings. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Harrison, Doug (March 22, 2021). "Akil Thomas notches natural hat trick to lead hockey's 1st all-Black line since '40s". cbc.ca. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  9. ^ "Quinton Byfield Makes NHL Debut with LA Kings". NHL.com. April 28, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  10. ^ Elliott, Helene (May 5, 2021). "Column: 1,000-point milestone reaffirms Kopitar as one of L.A.'s most accomplished athletes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  11. ^ "Promising rookie forward Quinton Byfield, 19, out indefinitely with ankle injury for Los Angeles Kings". ESPN.com. October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  12. ^ Whicker, Mark (January 20, 2022). "Whicker: Quinton Byfield's return spices up Kings' season". Orange County Register. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Kreda, Allan (January 27, 2022). "Quinton Byfield scores 1st NHL goal as Kings edge Islanders". Daily News. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  14. ^ Moddejonge, Gerry (April 25, 2023). "Oilers ease past Kings in Game 5, take lead in Western 1st Round". NHL.com. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  15. ^ "Byfield signs 5-year, $31.25 million contract with Kings". NHL.com. July 15, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  16. ^ "Byfield scores, but Canada settles for silver at Hlinka". The Sudbury Star. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
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