Lafreniere said he's been keeping busy at home, working out two hours a day and spending time with his family in St. Eustache, Quebec. He said no one in his family has experienced any symptoms of the virus.
"I didn't have much time to spend with my family this year with everything going on and while living in the billet (home), but it's good for us to spend time and talk," he said. "We play a couple games, but we just talk, watch TV together, watch movies and share dinner together, just little things like this. It's not fun right now with the coronavirus, but it's easier for sure that I'm with them. I'm home and I can stay here until everything (is back to normal)."
The 18-year-old also dominated against older competition, with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in five games to help Canada win the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. He missed two games during preliminary-round play with an injury to his left knee but returned for the medal round, had six points (three goals, three assists) in three games, and was named the tournament's most valuable player.
"The World Juniors was a really big moment for me," Lafreniere said. "Growing up you dream about it and we didn't get the result we wanted (at the 2019 WJC), so to come back this year and to be able to win that was a big moment in my career so far."
Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said Lafreniere's performance at the WJC left little doubt who the top player eligible for the 2020 draft was.
"While the top prospects of this draft class continue to distinguish themselves, Lafreniere has actually elevated his level of play to separate himself as the top prospect for the 2020 NHL Draft," Marr said after the WJC. "Injuries are part of the game and, thankfully, this one was not as serious as it looked.
"The two outstanding qualities for him are his quickness and his poise. Every part of the game he's composed, he's smart about it, but he's quick and he has speed so he can execute plays. He sees the ice, reads the play. Everything he does is at a high tempo."