When the Kings selected Quinton Byfield with the second overall pick in the NHL draft in October, few planned to see him in their opening night lineup.
When the 18-year-old center arrived in Los Angeles for the first time Wednesday, flying in via private charter directly from the World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Canada, to start a required quarantine process, it wasn’t clear whether he’d even be able to begin practicing before the Kings’ season opener Thursday night.
But Monday, he and two prospects who had participated in the world junior championship, defenseman Tobias Bjornfot and winger Arthur Kaliyev, joined the Kings for the first time this preseason.