Four years ago the Los Angeles Kings drafted their future number one center and potential franchise cornerstone piece when they took Quinton Byfield second overall.
He was heralded as the heir apparent to Anze Kopitar and was the crowned jewel of the Kings' once-great prospect pool.
In the three years after drafting Byfield, the Kings added two top six centers, Phil Danault and Pierre-Luc Dubois, effectively blocking Byfield's path up the middle.
Combined with a slow start, which is not uncommon in such big players, and Byfield had moved to wing on a permanent basis.
However, with Dubois traded to the Washington Capitals just a year after Rob Blake acquired him, the path at center is now open again for Byfield.
In fact, Byfield's breakout season was identified as a reason the Kings were comfortable moving on from Dubois by Blake.
"Part of this process here, since the season ended was the ability to see Quinton take these strides this year, we'd like to get him back to center ice," said Blake. "So you Kopitar, Danault and you've got Byfield. I think he took strides this year that enabled us to see him taking on those responsibilities of his own line in the middle."
While this adds another wrinkle to the, "why trade for Dubois if you wanted Byfield back to the middle eventually," question, that's in the past and over with.
Looking forward, Byfield can now work towards fully fulfilling his potential.
Blake mentioned the strides Byfield took last season, and they were significant.
He set career highs in goals (20) and points (55) despite playing the last 20 games of the season through illness.
He finished tied for the team lead in goals above replacement and was second amongst forwards for defensive impact per Evolving-Hockey.
Using NaturalStatTrick's line tool, Byfield was also a positive impact on almost every line he was moved to.
There was a period after Jim Hiller took over where Byfield felt like Hiller's bandaid. If a line was struggling, Byfield was moved to that line and they usually improved.
Now Byfield will have the opportunity to take charge of his own line.
The size, speed and skill Byfield possesses, along with his now excellent defensive game makes him an ideal candidate through the middle.
He'll need to improve in the faceoff circle, but that's the only missing piece right now.
As his offense increases and he has the chance to become more of a play driver. Byfield's value will continue to skyrocket.
Blocking prospects has been an issue for the Kings the last few years, and blocking Byfield's options to play center was one of the biggest examples of that issue.
That has been corrected now with the Dubois trade and it's time to commit to Byfield.
He's the future and the future might be now.