I would LOVE to see Tobias Bjornfot step right in to the NHL. And with Drew Doughty as his mentor, who knows -- he might be really good by the end of the year. No better way to learn . . .

First pairing is no place for a young defencemen imo. It will hurt their confidence. Look at pionk. He looks great for the jets now but was terrible last year.

Don’t rush it. Play him with Martinez or a different good vet if you want to keep handedness

Certainly a reasonable opinion. My counter-argument is Rasmus Dahlin made that transition, and that Tobias Bjornfot isn't Neal Pionk, but then your counter is Bjornfot isn't Dahlin, either, so . . .

Dahlin was special. He is elite. Bjornfot isn’t. Heiskanen is. Pionk isn’t.

I know bjornfot has a higher ceiling than pionk but pionk was much more nhl ready last year than bjornfot is now. I know pionk didn’t have a good d partner but if pionk wasn’t ready I don’t think bjornfot will be for first pairing. By the end of the year sure but not yet

And it will be interesting to track Cale Makar's career with Bowen Byram's.

Makar is part of the elite. Byram is good but he isn’t that good. You wouldn’t put him on the 1st paring would you.

I drafted makar in my fantasy so expect big things

Bjornfot isn't going to be with the team in November. He had a quality showing in training camp and they want to keep him around as long as possible to learn as much as he can. He's going to get his 9 games, then get sent back to Sweden to preserve his entry-level slide. The fact that Forbort is out on IR gives them the flexibility to keep him around for a while longer.

There's too many defensemen in Ontario competing for a static amount of ice time. As LHD trades are made this season, Anderson, Clague, and/or Brickley (probably in that order) will be called up, not only to give that guy a shot in the NHL, but also to give the remaining guys in the AHL more ice time and a more prominent role. The fact that Bjornfot has a loan destination other than Ontario makes him an attractive option for demotion.

Unless Bjornfot has a truly exceptional 9 games, I don't see the Kings keeping him in the NHL this season.