Lafreniere set to steal world junior spotlight

When it comes to the World Junior Hockey Championship, North American Central Scouting ’s Mark Seidel believes the two-week tournament will be “the coming-out party” of projected No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes of the United States. That is, if a kid who isn’t draft eligible until 2020 doesn’t hog all the attention.

“The story is going to be Alexis Lafreniere,” said Seidel.

“I think he’s going to make that team and be a big, big part of that team. This kid is a special player. If you ask me whether I’d take Lafreniere or Hughes, I’ll take Lafreniere.”

The native of Saint-Eustache, Que., who is the youngest player invited to this week’s selection camp in Victoria, is trying to follow in Connor McDavid’s footsteps by making Team Canada a year before he’s draft eligible. Like McDavid, Lafreniere comes to the camp with impressive credentials.

Last season, while playing for the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, he scored 42 goals — the most by a rookie since Sidney Crosby scored 54 in 2003-04. This year, he already has 17 goals and is tied for third in league scoring with 54 points in 31 games.

On a Canadian team that lacks big-name talent up front — Arizona’s Barrett Hayton is the only top-five pick — there could be a spot waiting for the 6-foot, 180-pound Lafreniere. After all, he led Canada to a gold medal at this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August, where he finished first in scoring with five goals and 11 points in five games, including the championship game-winner.

“He’s got some Mario Lemieux in him,” Seidel said of the 17-year-old Lafreniere, whose Oct. 11 birthday is less than a month after the draft cut-off date.

“He’s that big and that smart, and he uses his body to score. He’s still got a year and a half to go, so we’ll find ways to pick him apart, but I think he’s going to make it and play a big role for them.”