Much like every other aspect of the world of professional sports, and everything beyond it at the moment, the 2020 NHL Draft was one to remember.
Picture all the staples of draft day — the stage, the lights, the handshakes and ballcaps — and you'll run through the list of the aspects absent from this year's iteration. But even with the draft turned virtual, for Quinton Byfield, there was no taking away the magic of that moment.
"It was something super special," he said Thursday during an appearance on Tim & Sid, reflecting on the moment the Los Angeles Kings tabbed him with the No. 2 pick. "You know, even though you couldn’t walk up on stage and shake all the people’s hands up there, it was still something really special, and you got to share that moment with your family. So, you know, I wouldn’t change that day for the world.
"I’ve been working for that for my whole life, so I think it was still a really good day, and probably the best day of my life so far. So, so far, so good."
Since becoming a King on Oct. 6, the OHL standout has felt the love from his future city, with Californian icons like Snoop Dogg and Magic Johnson reaching out to congratulate Byfield — not only on joining the L.A. franchise, but also on making waves as the highest-drafted Black player in NHL history.
This is awesome. @SnoopDogg officially welcomes @byfield55 to LA.
(: @LAKings)pic.twitter.com/q1DjiPn8KB— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 9, 2020
.@MagicJohnson welcomes @byfield55 to Los Angeles and the @LAKings. pic.twitter.com/l8TmoaosWG
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 8, 2020
Needless to say, Byfield has appreciated the city's embrace.
"Those are pretty unbelievable," he told Micallef and Seixeiro. "I mean, you have arguably one of the best basketball players of all time give you a shoutout — I’m surprised he even knew my name. So that was pretty cool, him welcoming me to L.A. I think just looking at both of those texts and tweets, that was pretty insane."
When exactly the 18-year-old will make his debut in Kings colours remains to be seen, with the hockey world at large still mired in uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But Byfield said he's looking forward to one day learning the ins and outs of the big leagues from longtime L.A. all-stars like Anze Kopitar — to whom he's often been compared — Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick.
"I’m super excited. It’s most of the core guys that are left from the Stanley Cup-winning teams, and I think it’ll be really good to finally meet them and start working out with them, and just see how hard they compete, and what it takes to really win championships," he said. "I’m definitely excited to really pick their brains and just get down there in L.A."
Watch the entire interview with Quinton Byfield on Tim & Sid via the video atop this article.
