Quinton Byfield: Contract, Family, Stats, and NHL Career

When the Los Angeles Kings selected Quinton Byfield with the second overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, they made history: Byfield became the highest-drafted Black player in NHL history. Now, with a $31.25 million contract and a breakout 55-point season, the 22-year-old from Newmarket, Ontario, is proving that his potential is more than draft-night hype.

Age: 22 (born August 19, 2002) ·
Height: 6′ 4″ ·
Weight: 220 lbs ·
Position: Center / Forward ·
NHL Team: Los Angeles Kings ·
Contract Value: $31.25 million (5 years)

Eight key facts at a glance, covering everything from draft position to cap hit.

Who is Quinton Byfield’s father?

Byfield’s family roots trace back to Jamaica through his father, Quinton Byfield Sr. His mother, Chantal Byfield, has been a steady presence throughout his rise. The couple raised Quinton in Newmarket, a suburban town about an hour north of Toronto, and supported his early hockey ambitions — from local AAA programs to the Ontario Hockey League. The family’s close bond is a recurring theme in profiles about the young forward.

Chantal and Quinton Byfield Sr.

• Father: Quinton Byfield Sr. — originally from Jamaica (ESPN (sports news))
• Mother: Chantal Byfield — has spoken about his hockey journey in media features
• Heritage: Jamaican and Black Canadian

The implication: Byfield’s background is a source of pride and perspective, grounding him as he navigates the pressures of a high-profile NHL career.

What this means: Byfield’s upbringing in a close-knit immigrant household provides a stable anchor amid the demands of professional hockey, a factor that often separates players who sustain success from those who burn out.

What is Quinton Byfield’s current salary?

On July 15, 2024, the Kings locked up Byfield with a five-year contract worth $31.25 million — a clear vote of confidence in a player who had just posted his best NHL season. The deal carries a cap hit of $6.25 million per season through 2028-29, according to the league’s official announcement.

Contract breakdown 2024–2029

• Total value: $31.25 million (NHL.com (official))
• Average annual value (AAV): $6.25 million (Puckpedia (cap tracker))
• Length: 5 years through 2028-29 season
• Signing date: July 15, 2024

Salary cap hit

The $6.25 million cap hit places Byfield in the middle tier of young NHL forwards. It reflects both his draft pedigree and the team’s belief that his 55-point season is just the beginning. CapWages also lists the same figures, consistent across multiple salary sources (CapWages (salary database)).

The pattern: Byfield’s compensation mirrors that of other young forwards who signed bridge deals after a breakout season, but his $6.25M AAV is slightly higher than peers, reflecting his draft pedigree and upside.

Is Quinton Byfield a good NHL player?

The short answer: yes, and the evidence is mounting. Byfield was drafted second overall in 2020 after a dominant OHL career with the Sudbury Wolves, where he put up 82 points in 45 games in his draft year. Since turning pro, he has shown flashes of the power-forward skill set that made him a top prospect, culminating in a 2023-2024 season with 20 goals and 55 points in 80 games.

Stats overview

• 2023-2024 season: 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) in 80 games (NHL.com (player stats))
• Career NHL games: Over 150 through 2024-2025
• Draft year (OHL): 82 points in 45 games

Draft pedigree

The Kings selected Byfield with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, a class that also included Alexis Lafrenière and Tim Stützle. His draft ranking reflected elite size (6’4″, 220 lbs), high-end skating, and puck-handling ability — a rare combination.

Strengths and weaknesses

The catch: Byfield’s development curve is real but gradual. He is not yet a star, but he is on a path that few 22-year-olds with his frame and skill set follow.

Is Quinton Byfield black?

Yes. Byfield is Black and of Jamaican descent. When the Kings drafted him second overall in 2020, he became the highest-drafted Black player in NHL history — a milestone noted by ESPN and Yahoo Sports at the time. The significance: the NHL has long struggled with diversity, and Byfield’s selection was a visible step forward.

Cultural background

• Ethnicity: Black Canadian with Jamaican heritage
• Recognition: Highest-drafted Black player in NHL history (ESPN; Yahoo Sports (sports news))
• Personal: Byfield has spoken about representing his heritage as a motivator

The implication: Byfield’s ethnic background is not just biographical data—it’s a historical marker that the NHL uses to demonstrate its ongoing diversity efforts, and his performance will influence how the league markets that narrative.

Where did Quinton Byfield grow up?

Byfield was raised in Newmarket, Ontario, a community of roughly 90,000 people about 45 minutes north of Toronto. He played youth hockey for the York-Simcoe Express AAA program before joining the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL at age 16. The move to Sudbury — a mining city five hours north — was a key step in his development.

Newmarket, Ontario

• Birthplace: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada (ESPN)
• Youth team: York-Simcoe Express AAA
• Junior team: Sudbury Wolves (OHL) — 61 points in 64 games as a rookie, 82 points in 45 games in draft year

Childhood and early hockey

Friends and coaches describe Byfield as a quiet, hardworking kid who let his play do the talking. His father introduced him to the game, and by age 14 he was already 6 feet tall and drawing attention from major junior scouts.

The pattern: Byfield’s journey from a small Ontario town to the NHL’s biggest stage is a classic hockey story, amplified by his historic draft placement.

How tall is Quinton Byfield?

Byfield is listed at 6’4″ (193 cm) by Elite Prospects and at 6’5″ by Wikipedia, with a weight around 220 lbs (100 kg). The discrepancy likely reflects a growth spurt during his late teenage years. On the ice, his size is immediately noticeable — he uses his frame to protect the puck and drive the net.

Height and weight

• Elite Prospects: 6’4″, 220 lbs (Elite Prospects (scouting database))
• Wikipedia: 6’5″, 220 lbs (Wikipedia)
• Positional advantage: Among the tallest and heaviest forwards on the Kings roster

Timeline of Quinton Byfield’s career

A chronological look at the key dates in Byfield’s ascent.

The implication: Byfield’s career timeline shows a steady progression from junior standout to NHL contributor, with a notable acceleration in 2023-2024 that validated the Kings’ investment.

What’s clear and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Byfield was drafted 2nd overall in 2020 (ESPN)
• He signed a 5-year, $31.25 million contract in July 2024 (NHL.com)
• His parents are Quinton Byfield Sr. and Chantal Byfield (ESPN)
• He grew up in Newmarket, Ontario (ESPN)
• He is the highest-drafted Black player in NHL history (ESPN; Yahoo Sports)

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth figures beyond contract earnings
• Specific details about his grandmother (mentioned in related searches)
• Full breakdown of endorsement deals
• Whether his father’s first name is consistently reported as Quinton Sr. or Clinton (discrepancy in some sources)
• Confirmed height measurement from official NHL combine (both 6’4″ and 6’5″ reported)

The pattern: While the core facts of Byfield’s career are well-documented, peripheral details like precise financial net worth and family lineage nuances remain less certain and should be treated with caution.

Perspectives on Byfield’s rise

“We are thrilled to have Quinton signed. He has continued to develop and has shown he can be a key part of our core for years to come.”

“Byfield’s selection at No. 2 makes him the highest-drafted Black player in NHL history — a milestone that reflects the league’s changing demographics.”

For the Los Angeles Kings, the decision to invest $31.25 million in Byfield is a bet on a player who has already delivered a 55-point season — and whose ceiling is still rising. If his trajectory holds, he will be a foundational piece of the franchise’s next contending window. For the Kings and their fans, the wait for Byfield to fully arrive may be shorter than anyone expects.

For a deeper look at Quinton Byfields salary and contract details, including his current cap hit and career earnings, check out this comprehensive breakdown.

Frequently asked questions