This is THE kid, that puts the Kings back in the playoffs, for the next decade. Byfield could be better than Clarke....but Clarke is the one who will be catalyst on the PP and make everyone on the ice better. I truly believe the offense will be in the top half of the league (which is not a huge statement or reach...but wickedly better than being in the bottom 1/4 for years) and it will largely be because of Clarke. I believe the PP will be in the top 1/3 for the nest decade. He will play 21-24 minutes and drive the offense, while never being a liability on defense.
It's his sense and reads..being ahead of the play and making the right play. As someone said 'this kid has IT" . He Oozes confidence and the type that is driven and can back up what he says and intends to do. This year, he may get 8 games (or whatever it is) and go back down, but that's best for him this year. It is next year, that I think he makes it. Wil be stronger and more like 6'2" 205 or so.
However this year, Byfield and a few of Kupari, Kaliyev, Turcotte, Fagemo, Thomas will get some games and experience. Maybe some of them get cups of coffee and maybe some get
20+ games. Maybe 1 sticks entire season. It is the following year, 22-23, in which things take off.
This season will most definitely be the best Kings hockey we will have seen in 5+ years. May not quite be there, but just Byfield taking a slot and playing, helps launch the
next phase. Others like Vilardi, Andersson, Anderson, Bjornfot start raising their games....Arvidsson be the first legit 20+ goal scorer not named Kopitar / Brown / Toffoli
in years, will start to raise the goal scoring. Plus, one more soon-to-be-added piece (hopefully) will do the same. I expect all of: Iafallo, Kempe and Moore to be somewhat
better as well.
As Yannetti said: “If you go to Clarke, he’s something we’ve never had,” Yannetti said. “The style of play, the offense-driving, offense-first, borderline dynamic, offensive defenseman. Clarke is something different. I don’t want to compare guys, I don’t think that’s the fair thing, but what Clarke is, is something we haven’t had. He’s an offense-generating player. He can generate offense through transition, he can generate it individually, he can generate it on the blueline, all three ways.”