Quinton Byfield: 11 Goals, Two Tears - Inside the Injury Reveal
Quinton Byfield played 17 of his last 19 games on a torn left oblique - and posted 11 goals doing it. Inside the injury reveal that just changed the LA Kings post-Kopitar plan.
Two torn obliques over two months. 17 of 19 games played. He never told the public until April 29.
0.73 goals per game on a torn left oblique. 60-goal pace under pain. Pre-injury rate: 0.20 G/G.
Signed July 2024 at $31.25M / 5 years. Three years remain. Toughness reveal made it a top-line steal.
Kopitar retired after 20 seasons. Byfield walks into top-line center duty without LA paying a dime.
Right oblique post-Olympics, then left side healed up. Injections kept him skating. He missed 1 game.
Toughness proven. Contract friendly. Zero competition for the 1C slot. The center plan answered itself.