Quinton Byfield agrees to a 5-year, $31.25 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings
FILE - Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, March 23, 2024, in Los Angeles. Byfield has agreed to a five-year, $31.25 million contract extension with the Kings. The team announced the deal Monday, July 15, 2024, for Byfield, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft. The contract runs through the 2028-29 season. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
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 deal Monday for Byfield, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft. The contract runs through the 2028-29 season.
The 21-year-old Byfield made significant strides last season with the Kings, recording a career-high 20 goals and 35 assists while playing 80 games. He was the first Los Angeles player to record a 20-goal season at his age since captain Anze Kopitar in 2007-08.
After a slow start to his NHL career as a teenager, the 6-foot-5 power forward has grown into a prominent role with the Kings, particularly on special teams. Byfield had a career-best 14 points on the power play last season, and he scored four game-winning goals while finishing with a plus-19 rating.
Los Angeles reached the playoffs for the third consecutive year, but was knocked out of the first round by Edmonton for the third straight season.
Byfield, who was a restricted free agent, will be the fifth Kings forward and eighth player with an average annual salary above $5 million next season.
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