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Kings sign Quinton Byfield to entry-level contract

The Los Angeles Kings have signed forward Quinton Byfield to a three-year entry-level contract. Byfield was selected second overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and will wear the number 55 with the team.

Like much of this draft class, Byfield’s plans for next season are in flux, as he’ll likely return for another juniors season with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. Currently, of the three leagues that make up the CHL, only the QMJHL has started play, though the league is already on pause due to coronavirus complications. The OHL has a target start date of December 1, with camps starting mid-November.

As far as the NHL season goes, camps will likely begin in December, if the target January 1 start date holds, and while Byfield is one of the younger prospects from this draft class, there’s no ruling out a potential stand-out performance.

There’s also World Juniors to worry about. Last year, Byfield represented Team Canada on their Gold Medal winning team. The tournament will be held in a bubble in Edmonton, similar to the 2020 NHL playoffs, from December 26 to January 5.

Contract Details

The three-year contract is worth a potential $10.725 million overall. Byfield’s $925,000 salary comes with performances bonuses worth $2.65 million. Here’s how it breaks down (per CapFriendly):

It makes sense the the contract comparables are Jack Hughes and Kirby Dach, who both received the same max salary and fairly similar performance bonuses — $2.85 million for Hughes, drafted first overall in 2019, and $2.5 million for Dach, who was selected third that same year.

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