Ranking the top 31 prospects in the 2020 NHL Draft: 3. Quinton Byfield

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OSHAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 7: Quinton Byfield #55 of the Sudbury Wolves protects the puck from Giovanni Vallati #11 of the Oshawa Generals during an OHL game at the Tribute Communities Centre on February 7, 2020 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /

Weaknesses

Intensity

At moments Byfield looks disinterested on the ice, which isn’t irregular for 17-year olds but it is something that NHL clubs will keep an eye on.

At times in the defensive zone he will be caught standing still and waiting for his chance to jump on the offence, while abandoning his defensive responsibilities.

In the clip below, Byfield simply gets outworked for the puck, then floats around the high slot not guarding anybody and Mississauga would end up scoring. While the player who scored isn’t Byfield’s responsibility he could of afforded to put in more effort in trying to get the puck that he lost back by using his big frame, instead he just waved his stick and it ended up in his net.

The Sudbury center doesn’t possess many weaknesses but intensity does stand out as something he could use to better his game.

He will need to be more intense in the NHL, because in playing against men he will not be allotted many chances to go half-effort like the CHL does.

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