Byfield won't leave Team Canada if world juniors overlap with NHL season

Quinton Byfield will be with Team Canada from start to finish for the upcoming world juniors.

After Byfield spoke with Los Angeles Kings general manager Rob Blake, the plan for him is to play the duration of the tournament even if it overlaps with the beginning of the NHL season, according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic.

The NHL is hoping to start its 2021 campaign Jan. 1. The gold medal game at the world juniors is slated for Jan. 5.

Byfield - the No. 2 overall pick - and 45 others were invited to Canada's selection camp in late October. The longer-than-usual training camp began Nov. 16 and will end Dec. 13.

This year's world juniors are set to begin in Edmonton on Christmas Day. The entire event will be played at Rogers Place. No fans will be allowed in attendance due to COVID-19 protocols.

Canada won gold at last year's tournament in January with Byfield collecting one assist in seven games. Now 18, he's expected to play a much bigger role in driving the defending champions' offense.