Kings' Quinton Byfield to make season debut vs. Avalanche

Los Angeles Kings 19-year-old center Quinton Byfield is back. 

As noted by The Athletic, the Kings recalled Byfield from the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League in time for Thursday's home game versus the Colorado Avalanche. The expectation is that the second pick of the 2020 NHL Draft will make his season debut against Colorado. 

Byfield appeared in six total contests during the 2020-21 NHL season after he made his first appearance with the Kings last April. In total, he recorded one assist, his lone NHL point, to date. 

As The Athletic's Lisa Dillman wrote, Byfield was limited to 11 AHL games during the current campaign because of a fractured ankle and, later, COVID-19 protocol. He tallied four goals and two assists for Ontario this season ahead of Thursday's development. 

The Kings have recently lost two consecutive matchups to fall to 20-15-5 overall, and they sit second in the Pacific Division standings but trail the first-place Vegas Golden Knights by only three points. 

"We need to give Quinton Byfield a little breathing room," Kings coach Todd McLellan said about the prospect's continued development after Thursday's morning skate. "He’s not the savior right now, he’s just Quinton Byfield. He’s going to play a game tonight. And I’d rather take the pressure off of him than put it on him."