Presumptive 2020 first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere won't report to camp with the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic as he intends to train at home and report to his NHL team when the time comes, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.
Lafreniere won't attempt to play in Europe, either, McKenzie adds.
The QMJHL canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is targeting a return in October. European leagues are also set on returning sooner than the NHL, which has tentatively scheduled its 2020-21 campaign to begin in December.
If the NHL season doesn't begin by early 2021, Lafreniere and his NHL club will weigh available options, according to McKenzie.
The New York Rangers won the draft lottery Monday and are likely to select the Quebec-born phenom.
Lafreniere enjoyed an extraordinary draft year, becoming the first to win CHL Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons since Sidney Crosby. Lafreniere posted a whopping 112 points in 52 games for Rimouski and added 10 points in five contests at the world juniors en route to a gold medal and tournament MVP.
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