Report: Europe an option for Lafreniere if 2020-21 NHL season is delayed
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Alexis Lafreniere's agent is exploring all options for the 2020-21 season, including European leagues, depending on how long the start of the NHL's next campaign is delayed, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported on "Insider Trading" Thursday.
"... Where’s Alexis Lafreniere going to play this fall if the NHL season isn’t happening until January and the draft isn’t until October or November?" McKenzie said of the presumed 2020 No. 1 pick.
"Is the CHL going to be playing? Is the American Hockey League an option? We don’t know at this point," he continued. "But one thing I can tell you - (agent) Emilie Castonguay for Alexis Lafreniere is looking at all the options on the table and that will include seeing if the European club teams are up and operating in September and October."
The NHL announced in its return-to-play plan Tuesday that the draft lottery will be held June 26, but timelines for the draft itself and next season are far from settled.
Training camps for the resumption of the current season won't begin before July 10. Even if everything goes to plan, that could mean the NHL's 24-team playoff may not start until early August, possibly preventing the next season from beginning until December or January.
The CHL and all major European leagues canceled seasons outright due to the coronavirus pandemic earlier in the spring, and those leagues haven't revealed plans for a return.
Lafreniere has been labeled as the top pick among this year's crop of prospects all season. He produced 112 points in 52 QMJHL games this campaign in addition to winning a gold medal and being named tournament MVP at the world juniors.
The Detroit Red Wings own the best lottery odds for the No. 1 pick, with an 18.5% chance of winning.