The Los Angeles Kings need Quinton Byfield to take the next step and become a superstar and it appears that Elliotte Friedman thinks Byfield will get to that level soon.
In a recent 32 Thoughts episode Friedman predicted that Byfield will make team Canada for the 4-nations tournament.
Friedman then doubled down and called it a "real prediction."
Can Byfield be one of Canada's 12-13 best forwards by the February tournament?
It's not impossible, Byfield was brilliant last season and the main driving force for one of the best lines in hockey.
He's going to get a chance to lead his own line and move back to center.
That move to center and his opportunity this upcoming season will be a big factor in his chances to make team Canada.
He'll need to be excellent and he'll need the opportunity to do so.
It's going to be difficult enough to take 2C duties from Phil Danault and almost impossible to take 1C duties from Anze Kopitar which will make things tough.
Being a 2C on a middling team isn't generally a good way to make Canada.
He'd have to really feast on the power play, which is a possibility if he moves back to the net-front spot on the Kings' top unit.
Even with the move back to center, Byfield's potential fit on Canada is at wing.
There's already talk of players like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon moving to wing for Canada, if those players can't stick up the middle for Canada, Byfield can't either.
At wing, there's a chance for Byfield though.
He would need significant usage in LA, playing more than 16 minutes a night at minimum and getting time on PP1.
If we get to selection time and Byfield is playing at around a point-per-game pace and is still excelling defensively, he has a real shot to make Canada.
The talent is certainly there for Byfield.