In his third year in the NHL, Quinton Byfield has fit nicely into the Los Angeles Kings lineup, while also being one of the faces for a new generation of Black NHLers.
Ask Quinton Byfield what his favorite Jamaican dish is, and he'll flash you a smile as he tells you about the ones his dad, Clinton, makes. "He always makes dumplings, so I think that's my favorite dish that he brought over." Chatting about food from his heritage isn't the only reason Byfield has much to smile about as he also maintains a permanent spot on the Los Angeles Kings roster.
Byfield's career hasn't had the most linear path for a player drafted second overall –spending time in the AHL with the Ontario Reign – but the patience shown by the Kings has paid off.
In his fourth year with the Kings, Byfield is fourth in team scoring with 49 points and is on pace to put up 60 points playing in the top nine forward unit. He continues to use his size and speed to make an impact on the roster as his work with Canadian figure skating champion Barbara Underhill continues to pay off skating-wise.
Byfield has also shown his effectiveness on special teams, with five power-play goals and 12 points on the man advantage while leading the Kings in plus/minus at plus-17. And more recently, his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in February – that saw him seemingly go through everyone on the opposing team – is a contender for goal of the year.
The progression of Byfield is something that Kings interim head coach Jim Hiller has been impressed by. What has stood out to him the most has been the work Byfield has done to target multiple areas of his game.
"The one thing that impressed me about Q more than anything is his work ethic. You can see his physical ability but for a high draft pick to come in the league and have that type of work ethic right away has been really impressive. When you have that work ethic you're going to get better, your game is going to grow," said Hiller.
Trailblazer is also a word you can use when talking about Byfield. In 2018, the Sudbury Wolves selected him, making him the first Black player to be drafted first overall in the OHL. After two seasons with the Wolves, during which he recorded 143 points, he'd make history again by becoming the highest-drafted Black player in the NHL Draft in 2020.
The OHL and CHL as a whole have had a wave of Black players on various rosters, and Byfield wants to be someone who can help keep the door open to those who come after him and be a mentor.
"There's a lot of young kids who are coming into the game now just starting, and it's really good to see, and I'm just trying to be a role model for those guys and show them what they can do."
On ice hasn't been the only place where Byfield has been turning heads. Off the ice, Byfield has also easily been one of the most noticeable players in the league thanks to his fashion style, which has landed him on numerous hockey style lists, from wearing a tuxedo on draft day in 2020 to breaking out bowties and more than a few suits that have stood out compared to the normal threads that most players wear.
The style has evolved over the years as he's been able to get fashion connections during his time in Los Angeles.
"I got my suits from Moores when I was younger, and right now I get them from State and Liberty. They always hooked me up; it's a lot of good stuff, a lot of different kinds of jackets".
The Kings have been trying to grow the game in Southern California, and Byfield has been able to see the influence of himself and fellow member of the Kings organization Akil Thomas (currently playing for the Ontario Reign) as the team and region looks to push the game forward among its Black fans and overall community.
"I think LA is ahead of the curve culture-wise. It's very open in that sense. It's really positive seeing guys like that coming into the game as well as myself and being able to help grow the game".
While there's still more to write in the NHL story of Quinton Byfield, so far he's made an impact on the game in more ways than just his play.