The 17-year-old beast, Quinton Byfield of the Sudbury Wolves is having a dominant start to his draft eligible season. He currently has 57 points in 30 games and sits 3rd overall in league scoring. Byfield is man amongst boys out on the ice and his potential seems endless at this point. He will be a cornerstone piece centerman to the franchise that gets the luxury of selecting him in this year’s upcoming NHL entry draft in June. The smooth skating pivot deserves all the hype he is getting. He is going to continue to only get better throughout this season. He has all the tools to become a very successful player in the NHL, something that I think could happen within the next year. I think we are looking at a for sure top five lock this season and Ibelieve he will either selected first or second overall in June.
| Quinton Byfield | Draft Eligible 2020 |
|---|---|
| Position: C, Shoots L | H/W: 6-4", 214 lbs |
| Stats to Date (GP-G-A-PTS-Pims) | Sudbury Wolves, OHL (30-22-35-57-32) |
Quinton Byfield of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Skating: Byfield’s skating ability is among the most elite in his draft class. His big frame is no issue to him as he is such a strong skater and uses his size to his advantage. Byfield’s ability to skate at full speed, but still protect the puck, is what separates him.. His edge work is also a very strong asset and he loses defenders constantly with his quick edges. His elusiveness on his edges allows for prolonged puck protection time and the ability to grind down the opposition. He is super strong and has the ability to start, stop and turn on a dime that keeps his defenders constantly guessing where he is going to go. Not many players can create more space for themselves with their skating, but Byfield does this quite often. andwill help him transition to the NHL nicely. When he is attacking through the seams at full speed, he is a giant force to be reckoned with. Grade: 60
Shot: Byfield is a goal scorer who possesses a hard, fast, and accurate shot. While he is still an excellent play maker, he has a lethal shot that he is not afraid to let go in the high danger spots on the ice. He also loves to unleash the puck when skating in full stride and using the defenseman as a screen to unload it. His release is already NHL ready, and with continued practice he can really hone his accuracy for when he makes that jump to the next level. Grade: 60
Skills: Byfield’s puck skills are ridiculously good. He dominates with the puck on his stick and has all the confidence in the world when he has it on his tape. He slows the game down to his speed when he wants and makes so many little subtle skill plays throughout a game. He always has an active stick and will hound you with back pressure until he regains the puck. His play in the defensive zone is very detail-oriented as well and he frequently knocks pucks down with his stick. Playing with the puck on his backhand is another strong point for him. He can create and make plays, where some younger players force plays to their forehands. His skillset is one that I have no problems saying will translate into an elite NHL center one day. Grade 60
Smarts: Possesses an elite ability to process the game at a much faster pace than most of his peers. He is a very high driving, offensive threat to the opposition each time he is on the ice. His hockey IQ is off the charts for several reasons. He is so poised with the puck and rarely makes the wrong decision with it. His vision is excellent with the puck and his ability to anticipate the play and find an open teammate in transition is excellent, too. His defensive awareness and ability to support his defenseman in the corners is second to none at his level. He makes a ton of subtle little puck touches in games that create more space for himself and his teammates. His ability to find the open spots in the offensive zone to get a scoring chance really stands out as well. Grade 65
Physicality: Being one of the biggest guys on the ice most games, his physical dominance does not go unnoticed. He is constantly playing in the dirty areas on the ice and loves playing a cycle game down low. When he gets in on the forecheck, defenseman must be aware of his presence because he will physically take the puck and drive it right to the net or find an open teammate for a scoring chance. An area for improvement could potentially be utilizing his strength and size when he does not have the puck on his tape. Byfield asserts his physicality in terms of grinding down the other team in the offensive zone by controlling the play down low and being strong on the puck. He does not throw crushing hits or play an agitating role during a game. Grade 55
Overall Future Projection (OFP): 60.75