EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Forward Quinton Byfield has agreed to a five-year, $31.25 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings announced the signing of Byfield, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, on Monday. The deal runs through the 2028-29 season.
The 21-year-old Byfield came into his own last season with the Kings, recording a career-high 20 goals and 35 assists in 80 games. He became the first Los Angeles player of his age to record 20 goals in a season since captain Anze Kopitar in 2007-08.
The 6-foot-5 power forward got off to a slow start in his NHL career as a teenager but has blossomed into a key role with the Kings, especially on special teams. Byfield scored a career-high 14 points on the power play last season, scored four game-winning goals and finished with a plus-19 rating.
Los Angeles reached the playoffs for the third straight year but lost in the first round to Edmonton for the third straight season.
Byfield, a restricted free agent, will become the Kings' fifth forward next season and the eighth player with an average salary of more than $5 million.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
