Byfield needs another year in the CHL

#WJCFAIL

Byfield will need one season of Juniors.

the WJC means nothing

Keep in mind he is a 2002, he was only 17 this tournament (hence why he wore a fishbowl). When Lafreniere was a 17 year old last year, he was near invisible in the tournament. But the fact they both made the team at that age shows how impressive they are. Byfield will be a force next year. He's got the size, speed, and skill. A lot of comparisons to Malkin

I would say just more sheltered minutes.

I'd hardly call it a fail. He was a 17 year old in a 20 year old tournament. he did just fine. The fact that he was even there and beat out other 19/20 year old's speaks volumes.

Lafreniere also only had 1 goal in 5 games as a 17 year old in the WJC.

it means that he was playing against the worlds best....his own age

The NHL is against the worlds best all but a whole lot older...

I can't see him playing next year in the NHL for 82 games

yes...Lafreniere isnt playing the nhl this year

A force? No. He will make the NHL next year is an extra year out from 1C ready

in OTT??? Maybe like what Dach is doing in Chicago...but that wont happen in OTT as they need vets to play with the young ones.

One year in the world juniors makes way more of a difference than one year in the NHL. It's not even close

This NHL Draft is for players born between Sept 15 2001 and Sept 14 2002. If Lafreniere was born a month earlier he would have been in last year's draft and he would be in the NHL right now.

I'm aware of Ottawa's current state. but they do have White, Anisimov, Batherson, and Tierney who can all just play more minutes.

No way he'd be the number one centre if he did make the team out of training camp.
More like third line, then as he'd probably not play very well, in the beginning I think he would go down to Belleville.

Playing 3rd line mins...not forced to play top line with OTT.

He can't...its OTT or CHL...Thats my thought on him not making it.

Wrong.

For everyone on here....I like Byfield, dont get me wrong...but why would Ottawa do this to him...just check out EDM from 5-10 years ago...They need to develop him, not throw him to the wolves. As Ottawa won't be competing for a few years, leave him in the Q to develop. It was also mean that he hits FA at a different time than Lafreniere.

Mackinnon had 1a in 6 games at the WJC, Drouin had 4pts in 6 games. Now who's the better player? Byfield might need conditioning a bit because I think he has endurance issues, but he's in the top tier of the draft with Lafrenière.

Suzuki played at 19yo at the WJC and he was invisible, a year later, he's the Habs second line center and has 25 pts in his last 30 games.

The WJC means nothing.

Ottawa is in a state where they roll their 4 lines. Especially next year with such a young roster. Byfield would benefit playing with better wingers. And he is also too young for Belleville. It's quite rare for the 2nd overall pick to not make their nhl team, let alone in a draft this strong.

I'm not talking about the draft. I get that he will be in the top 5...Im talking about him playing 1C in his rookie year with one of the worst teams in the NHL.

First overall picks don't often play third line minutes. They usually have quite an impact their rookie seasons. And lafreniere is supposed to be the draft pick since McDavid

He would not have been last year...Check out where Kaako, Hughes and Dach are playing...3rd line...

Don't pay too much attention to the line combinations. They change all the time especially on a team like this. But yes, don't be surprised to see Byfield playing 16+ minutes on whatever team he ends up on. Also, the sens should be pretty competitive next year, don't be fooled.

Jack Hughes averages 16 minutes a night. And 2019 is viewed as a very weak draft. On the other hand, 2020 is by far the strongest draft since 2015. If you think Lafreniere is going to be in the bottom 6 next year, that's an issue