With the confidence gained, Byfield could build toward a productive 2023-24 season.
“It’s almost like a new challenge to go back to center,” Byfield said on July 15, the day he signed a five-year, $31.25 million contract (average annual value $6.25 million) with Los Angeles. “I’ve played there my whole life and played with and alongside (Kopitar), played with (Phillip Danault) as well.
“Hopefully I have to play with (Fiala). He’s such a dynamic player on offense, he can control the game with his speed, his vision and his plays. Not many can do that. When I can be with him, we have good chemistry, we can be effective together and change the game quite a bit.”
The Kings will also rely on Warren Foegele on offense, whom they signed on July 1 for three years and $10.5 million ($3.5 million AAV). They already know Foegele, who played the last three seasons with the Oilers. He scored 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) in 82 regular-season games and eight points (three goals, five assists) in 22 playoff games for Edmonton, which lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games in the Stanley Cup final.
“They have a great work ethic, a lot of talented guys and just seeing an environment that’s going in the right direction, I honestly just wanted to be there and see if I could help them get further in the playoffs,” Foegele said on the Kings’ website on July 2.
There will be some changes on defense, but the proven top pair of Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson should remain unchanged. Brandt Clarke, who played 16 games with the Kings last season, will get a bigger chance this season.
Kuemper will likely share time in goal with David Rittich, who is in his second season with Los Angeles.
The Kings have made changes, but whether the improvements come from new players or new systems, they want better results in the playoffs.
“It’s going to be about systems, it’s going to be different things we’re going to talk about,” Blake said on May 23. “Jim is going to put his stamp on the team, even more than when he took over the team. We have a clean slate going forward. But our message is that we have to be uncomfortable with our group.”
“We have to do it. It starts right now, right here today with me, with Jim, all the way down to our players. If we want to get there (deep into the playoffs), then we have to get there.”
