C Quinton Byfield - Sudbury Wolves, OHL (2020 Draft) II

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TkachukNorris79

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I don't want to see Byfield in the NHL next year although I think the team that drafts him will keep him there. It would be better to get at least one more year of junior imo, the extra year helped players like Drasaitl a ton.
See I'd spend so long debating it as a sens fan if we got him. I think he's ready, but we're not in a position to win yet so I'd be more than happy to let him go obliterate the OHL and develop a bit more.

But I think Eugene is hurting financially, especially after the pandemic. He's gotta be on his heels, and he needs someone like Byfield to market, so I feel like they'd rush him in. They did it with Tkachuk and worked out well.

I'd be happy either way, but I think Ottawa needs to let Logan Brown sink or swim as s top 6 centre in the NHL this year, and Josh Norris is really knocking on the door too. They can spend the year to determine who will make the move to wing or potentially get moved. Cause Byfield would step in as a Top 6 C in 2021.

I still think he would be very good in the NHL next year, but wouldn't REALLY be mad at another year of development for QB55.
 

NHL Dude 120

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Im pretty vocal in that if the sens get him he should be sent to juniors but only after 9 games. I do wish however he could play in the AHL.
 

newfy

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Im pretty vocal in that if the sens get him he should be sent to juniors but only after 9 games. I do wish however he could play in the AHL.

How can anyone make this call or be pretty vocal about this before seeing him in camp and the preseason? With this extra time off what if he packs on a bunch of muscle and is an absolute force to start the year?

No one should be deciding where they think he needs to play next year for a while. A kid that big that can skate and has the talent he does is not a no brainer to be sent back to junior. Maybe he does end up there but its definitely not the obvious route right now. It worked for Draisatl but Draisatl wasnt the prospect Byfield was either
 

wings5

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How can anyone make this call or be pretty vocal about this before seeing him in camp and the preseason? With this extra time off what if he packs on a bunch of muscle and is an absolute force to start the year?

No one should be deciding where they think he needs to play next year for a while. A kid that big that can skate and has the talent he does is not a no brainer to be sent back to junior. Maybe he does end up there but its definitely not the obvious route right now. It worked for Draisatl but Draisatl wasnt the prospect Byfield was either

Packs on a bunch of muscle doing his TRX workouts? Doubtful, thats not the thing he'd need to work on anyways, Dach was a force and then started to fade shortly after. It takes time for players like him to grow into and get used to their bodies.
 

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How can anyone make this call or be pretty vocal about this before seeing him in camp and the preseason? With this extra time off what if he packs on a bunch of muscle and is an absolute force to start the year?

No one should be deciding where they think he needs to play next year for a while. A kid that big that can skate and has the talent he does is not a no brainer to be sent back to junior. Maybe he does end up there but its definitely not the obvious route right now. It worked for Draisatl but Draisatl wasnt the prospect Byfield was either

He definitely could use 9 games in the NHL.
He's trying a lot of shit against OHLers that won't work in a million years in the NHL. He's backing into them like an NBA powerforward, using reach to protect the puck.
Come to the NHL. Learn why that doesn't work. Go back to juniors and figure it out.
If he stays in the NHL I could definitely see him having a Joe Thornton type rookie year.
 

DrSense

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Thankfully, no one has to decide whether he stays in the NHL or goes back to junior until such time as he has already played with men in camp and preseason and demonstrated where he belongs.
 
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newfy

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Packs on a bunch of muscle doing his TRX workouts? Doubtful, thats not the thing he'd need to work on anyways, Dach was a force and then started to fade shortly after. It takes time for players like him to grow into and get used to their bodies.

I'm just using it as an example. If hes 6'4, 225 with his skating ability heading into next season, how much is he going to learn in junior? Hes already toying with the OHL. Theres lots of other things that could change with this much time to train in the offseason.

Byfield is a different level prospect than Dach ever was and he still looked decent this year in the NHL. I'm not saying he needs to stick, but saying he needs to go back to junior for another year is really premature right now
 
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Gold Standard

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I'm just using it as an example. If hes 6'4, 225 with his skating ability heading into next season, how much is he going to learn in junior? Hes already toying with the OHL. Theres lots of other things that could change with this much time to train in the offseason.

Byfield is a different level prospect than Dach ever was and he still looked decent this year in the NHL. I'm not saying he needs to stick, but saying he needs to go back to junior for another year is really premature right now


unless you're a McDavid level prospect 3 years of junior is better than 2. across the board. I don't care who they are or their draft status. and it's a bit of a reach to suggest he was toying with the OHL. He was having a very good season in his draft year worthy of being in the TOP 1-2 or 3 debate. Until Lafreniere, in his 3rd. year of junior, ended that debate.

anyway, if we get an October start to the season I look forward to Byfield's 9 game stint to see where he's at.
 
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Daximus

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I'm just using it as an example. If hes 6'4, 225 with his skating ability heading into next season, how much is he going to learn in junior? Hes already toying with the OHL. Theres lots of other things that could change with this much time to train in the offseason.

Byfield is a different level prospect than Dach ever was and he still looked decent this year in the NHL. I'm not saying he needs to stick, but saying he needs to go back to junior for another year is really premature right now

Byfield wasn't really toying with the NHL anymore than Rossi, Perfetti or even Jack Quinn were. I'd say it's extremely doubtful hes ready for the NHL. If I drafted him it would be TC, PS and maybe a little taste of NHL and back you go. To many teams rush kids to the NHL. Just because you're big doesn't mean you're ready.
 

bert

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See I'd spend so long debating it as a sens fan if we got him. I think he's ready, but we're not in a position to win yet so I'd be more than happy to let him go obliterate the OHL and develop a bit more.

But I think Eugene is hurting financially, especially after the pandemic. He's gotta be on his heels, and he needs someone like Byfield to market, so I feel like they'd rush him in. They did it with Tkachuk and worked out well.

I'd be happy either way, but I think Ottawa needs to let Logan Brown sink or swim as s top 6 centre in the NHL this year, and Josh Norris is really knocking on the door too. They can spend the year to determine who will make the move to wing or potentially get moved. Cause Byfield would step in as a Top 6 C in 2021.

I still think he would be very good in the NHL next year, but wouldn't REALLY be mad at another year of development for QB55.
Tkachuk is almost a full year older than Byfield in his draft year and comes from an NHL hockey family almost polar opposite situations. If Melnyk is having this type of hands on impact where he is picking who plays then there is no hope. Losing the playoffs and U18's for Byfield is even more of a reason that he should be sent back. The extra year also brings him closer to UFA years and i think even Melnyk is cognizant of that. With both Brown and Norris pushing for spots i think its even more of a reason to send him back.
 

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I don't think there's a center in today's NHL with his size, skill and skating ability

Staal was probably the last good big bodied C that had a similar skill set, although he wasn't as good of an overall skater but he had a bit more overall smarts I think. Thornton in his prime was obviously another one though he played a very different game than Byfield will.
 

newfy

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Byfield wasn't really toying with the NHL anymore than Rossi, Perfetti or even Jack Quinn were. I'd say it's extremely doubtful hes ready for the NHL. If I drafted him it would be TC, PS and maybe a little taste of NHL and back you go. To many teams rush kids to the NHL. Just because you're big doesn't mean you're ready.

If you watched them you wouldnt suggest Quinn was on the same level as Byfield at all. Rossi and Perfetti also dont have close to the physical advantage that Byfield has. Perfetti is a weaker skater and could stand to use a year to work on that, same with Rossi really. I think Rossi is a guy who pro somewhere besides the NHL would be perfect (which it sounds like hes planning anyways). Byfield was on a different level from all those guys in the OHL except for maybe Rossi, but Byfield has the bigger frame, better skating and all that.

ALl I'm saying is dont be surprised if he has a really good camp and cracks a team this year and that might be perfectly fine for his development. Pigeon holing and saying he has to go back to junior for sure is premature
 

Daximus

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If you watched them you wouldnt suggest Quinn was on the same level as Byfield at all. Rossi and Perfetti also dont have close to the physical advantage that Byfield has. Perfetti is a weaker skater and could stand to use a year to work on that, same with Rossi really. I think Rossi is a guy who pro somewhere besides the NHL would be perfect (which it sounds like hes planning anyways). Byfield was on a different level from all those guys in the OHL except for maybe Rossi, but Byfield has the bigger frame, better skating and all that.

ALl I'm saying is dont be surprised if he has a really good camp and cracks a team this year and that might be perfectly fine for his development. Pigeon holing and saying he has to go back to junior for sure is premature

I would actually be very surprised if Byfield was ready for the NHL personally. For a player of his potential if he doesn't make a top 6 with PP time then I see no point to it. If all you will be doing is 10 minutes a night on a bottom 6 line then you are far better served going back to junior. Playing first line, PP1 and PK minutes night in and night out and fine tuning the parts of your game with holes in it there. Far to many teams think that just because a kid is 6'3+ and skates well he should be in their bottom 6 plugging away. Getting someone top 6 minutes and special teams minutes is far better for their developement. If Byfield can't crack a top 6 send him down.
 

PizzaAndPucks

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Byfield wouldn't be a bad option to start in a team's bottom 6 because he isnt going to get manhandled out there with his size. He can get better matchups and earn more minutes as the season progresses and when players go down with injuries. Him going to junior for another year is the safer option but if he makes an NHL roster and plays a full year than the experience can be good for him too.
 

MBH

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I would actually be very surprised if Byfield was ready for the NHL personally. For a player of his potential if he doesn't make a top 6 with PP time then I see no point to it. If all you will be doing is 10 minutes a night on a bottom 6 line then you are far better served going back to junior. Playing first line, PP1 and PK minutes night in and night out and fine tuning the parts of your game with holes in it there. Far to many teams think that just because a kid is 6'3+ and skates well he should be in their bottom 6 plugging away. Getting someone top 6 minutes and special teams minutes is far better for their developement. If Byfield can't crack a top 6 send him down.

He's so damn young and has enough holes in his game that I think he probably plays in the OHL next season.
 

newfy

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Byfield wouldn't be a bad option to start in a team's bottom 6 because he isnt going to get manhandled out there with his size. He can get better matchups and earn more minutes as the season progresses and when players go down with injuries. Him going to junior for another year is the safer option but if he makes an NHL roster and plays a full year than the experience can be good for him too.

Third line minutes with powerplay time is a definite possibility. He could always get sent back for the World Juniors and back to junior afterwards like draisatl did if he starts playing poorly. But 15-18 mins a night with some PP time wouldnt kill his development either
 
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Samsquanch

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Third line minutes with powerplay time is a definite possibility. He could always get sent back for the World Juniors and back to junior afterwards like draisatl did if he starts playing poorly. But 15-18 mins a night with some PP time wouldnt kill his development either

Thats 1st line minutes on a team thats rolling 4 regular lines. Sure some star forwards will see 20+ mins, but anything north of 17 mins in todays NHL is 1st line territory for sure. If his play was deserving of those kind of minutes, obviously you do it without thinking twice about his development - he'd be getting the best you could hope through osmosis.

He would likely see 10-15mins most nights (lets avg it at 12.5) in a bottom 6 and PP specialist role, and thats where it gets dicey on where he should be.....

I honestly say let him go back to Sudbury for one more year with Stillman. Let him play 22-24mins a game in all situations (hes only had 1 year as a full time PKer so far). We need to let him learn what it feels like to physically dominate peers his of own age, and not be battling with people 2 or 3 years his senior like hes had to his entire career so far. Like he was literally still playing midget hockey 2 years ago in 2018 lol...

That is what is really going to do wonders for his development imo. Confidence is the only thing thats ever going to stand in his way of superstardom. And if Im the team that drafts him, helping him realize that potential is obviously priority #1.

He knows how to battle already, and hes not a soft big guy whatsoever. But Im telling you if he can get a bit more mean and decides to start hurting people physically, we have the makings of a scary, scary good hockey player.
 
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newfy

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Thats 1st line minutes on a team thats rolling 4 regular lines. Sure some star forwards will see 20+ mins, but anything north of 17 mins in todays NHL is 1st line territory for sure. If his play was deserving of those kind of minutes, obviously you do it without thinking twice about his development - he'd be getting the best you could hope through osmosis.

He would likely see 10-15mins most nights (lets avg it at 12.5) in a bottom 6 and PP specialist role, and thats where it gets dicey on where he should be.....

I honestly say let him go back to Sudbury for one more year with Stillman. Let him play 22-24mins a game in all situations (hes only had 1 year as a full time PKer so far). We need to let him learn what it feels like to physically dominate peers his of own age, and not be battling with people 2 or 3 years his senior like hes had to his entire career so far. Like he was literally still playing midget hockey 2 years ago in 2018 lol...

That is what is really going to do wonders for his development imo. Confidence is the only thing thats ever going to stand in his way of superstardom. And if Im the team that drafts him, helping him realize that potential is obviously priority #1.

He knows how to battle already, and hes not a soft big guy whatsoever. But Im telling you if he can get a bit more mean and decides to start hurting people physically, we have the makings of a scary, scary good hockey player.

I meant that 15-18 as in he would likely play about 13 or so even strength and a couple minutes on the PP getting him around 15-16 mins a game on average. If hes having a good game bump him up into that 18 range.
 
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