Mathias Laferriere
In the category of coming out of nowhere, we have Mathias Laferriere. The hardcore fans that keep up with these things might remember him. The rest of us kind of forgot about that name.
The Blues drafted him in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft. It is not surprising why he lasted that long.
Laferriere had 12 goals and 41 points in 67 games in 2017-18. That is not going to catch many eyes as you have so many guys in that middle ground.
Credit to the Blues scouting staff for finding this one. They knew something.
Laferriere almost doubled his point totals in 2018-19. In 68 games with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, he scored 28 goals and 74 points. So, he more than doubled his goal totals.
As of writing this, he has a goal and two points in two games, keeping his PPG average way up there in the QJMHL.
Like the worry with Kyrou, you worry that this might all be the mirage of the league you are in. Plenty of guys score in juniors and then nothing in the pros.
That said, this kid has made the necessary jump from year to year. Like Kyrou, you need to show that jump from year to year that you are figuring things out and dominating your age group.
Laferriere is only 18, so he has plenty of time to keep developing. If he can jump into a 90-100 point season next year, then we can start looking toward his pro career.