Why Cole Caufield is automatically a top prospect for the Montreal Canadiens
Cole Caufield fell into the laps of the Montreal Canadiens, and his skill set is something the organization needs making him one of if not their top prospect.
Drafting is a combination of awareness and thought, but it also comes with a lot of luck. The Montreal Canadiens were lucky to watch 12 other players have their names called up spreading waves of panic anytime a general manager (or other representatives) uttered the words, “From the US National Development Program.” But now that Cole Caufield officially belongs to the Habs, it’s not a stretch at all to say he is the team’s top prospect.
In the past, the Canadiens were in desperate need of centres. They had players playing the position here and there, but they didn’t have much going for them or someone who could be talented enough to hold the “franchise” mantel. Trevor Timmins has changed that narrative around quickly with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Ryan Poehling while Marc Bergevin‘s Max Pacioretty trade (which looks better and better each week) brought Nick Suzuki to the team.
This year’s draft possibly put an emphasis on left-shot mobile defenceman, but that could still be addressed in rounds two-seven. The Montreal Canadiens do have a growing Victor Mete at their disposal, Gustav Olofsson, Brett Kulak, as well as Jordan Harris who they took in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft. Whether they have potential as top-pairing defenceman is up in the air but Mete seems to be the Habs best bet.
What the Habs need is a goal scorer, a day in and day out finisher. That may sound crazy given the years Brendan Gallagher, Max Domi and Tomas Tatar had, but it is a role worth looking at. Montreal has finishers at 5v5 who can capitalize off of offensive rushes in Domi and Tatar while Gallagher’s office comes within the slot and the goal crease.
Creativity allowing plays and scoring to come with ease, especially on the power play is lacking. The Montreal Canadiens need a producing machine. Gallagher’s tenacity and relentlessness allow him to be in positions to pot in rebounds, find deflections, or make quick moves in-tight. However, the Habs haven’t had a go-to sniper since Max Pacioretty…until now.
As I mentioned in the initial post, Cole Caufield checks all the boxes and it’s incredible he fell so far.
Related Story. How did Caufield fall to the Habs?. light
Caufield is the second coming of Alex Debrincat. Debrincat was taken in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft despite having at least 50 goals in each of his three seasons (51, 51, and 65) in the OHL with the Erie Otters. He’s a dynamic player who finds lanes, seems, and holes to produce offensively having the vision and hockey IQ to make those around him better.
Caufield is no different. He’s a player who linemates try to find when the team needs to score, his shot is very quick and accurate, especially of a pass coming off his stick instantly. His skating and footspeed are on point and explosive allowing him to quickly bypass the opposition or charge up-ice when taking advantage of an error.
Many thought Debrincat was only good because he played with Connor McDavid in his first year. However, he continued to produce even though 97 took his talents to the NHL. Some have made the same argument for Caufield who played with Jack Hughes this season, but that’s not the case.
Hughes missed a month of playing time in December (seven games), and Caufield scored seven goals and three assists. The 2019 first-overall pick missed another month from January 15th to February 15th (seven games) and Caufield put up five goals and four assists. The two play together, but Caufield’s offence isn’t reliant on Hughes.
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On the power play, Caufield sets up along the left circle and waits to get the one-timer feed. His goals from that spot aren’t always sent to the side of the net but up into the corner making it extremely difficult for a goaltender to stop. It doesn’t even matter if he is below the goal line, he’ll still try to shoot and score.
The 18-year-old tends to do things on his own as a finisher, but he is also aware of how others perceive him. When the shot isn’t there, Caufield will instead draw others towards him freeing his linemates up for a play, or a quick feed allowing himself to get free for a final pass in those high-danger areas.
His puckhandling comes into play here. Caufield’s hands allow him to make those small dekes to get past defenders. Again, Caufield knows what others think of him. He knows they’re expecting him to make a play for the net so he’ll deke around them and find a teammate keeping the opposing team guessing at all times.
Is he one-dimensional? That’s a question many have asked and another possible reason as to why he fell when some had him around the top-10 of the NHL Draft. Caufield now holds the record for most goals over a player’s career as part of the US National Development Program with 126 goals and is tied for the third most points with Phil Kessel (180).
Interesting that Kessel is close to his totals. Many over the years have said he is one-dimensional as well having incredible skill with the puck as one of the league’s better snipers. Caufield has time to grow confidence defensively, especially when it comes to coverage and timing when defending in his own end. Growth in those areas generally comes with age and more experience as well, and he’ll surely get that in the NCAA playing for the University of Wisconsin.
Worst case scenario it improves ever so slightly, the pure goal-scoring Caufield possess makes it worthwhile every day. Kessel may not be Ryan O’Reilly or Patrice Bergeron, but he has had a number of 80-point seasons and ridiculous performances in the playoffs which have helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win a Stanley Cup.
Caufield will be in the NHL one day and I don’t think he’ll need the four years in Wisconsin to prepare himself for it. The Montreal Canadiens will need to wait in the meantime and let other prospects join the fold, but what Caufield brings to the table is unique.
Next. More Speculation to the Fire. dark
Domi has given Habs fans a reason to love the number 13, and with Caufield joining the organization, we now have another.