Montreal Canadiens Sign Cole Caufield
Montreal Canadiens top prospect Cole Caufield has officially signed his entry-level contract with the organization.
Caufield was the Habs first round pick, 15th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. He was a star performer for the United States Development Program leading up to the draft, and looks to be a steal that somehow fell outside the top ten.
The Stevens Point, Wisconsin native has played the past two seasons for the Wisconsin Badgers of the NCAA and has dominated his opposition.
He led the Big Ten Conference in scoring as a freshman with 19 goals and 36 points in 36 games. This season, he led the entire country in scoring, piling up 30 goals and 52 points in 31 contests. His 88 points in 67 career college games gives him a points per game average of 1.31. He was the best player in college hockey this season and is almost guaranteed to be named the Hobey Baker Award winner as college hockey’s best player.
Caufield’s Badgers lost yesterday to Bemidji in the NCAA Tournament, ending his college career. They were expected to go a little deeper, but in a winner take all format, anything can happen.
Though his college playoff was shorter than anticipated, it allowed him to begin his pro career earlier than expected.
He signed his three year entry-level contract tonight, which will lock him in through the 2022-23 season. This puts an end to his college career, and means he will be headed to Montreal soon, though he will have to sit out for seven days and quarantine while being tested for Covid-19 every day.
After that, it will be up to the Canadiens organization whether they decide to put him in the National Hockey League right away, or send him down to the Laval Rocket to begin his career.
Caufield’s calling card is his amazing shot that had eluded goaltenders at every level he has played. He has an underrated ability to setup his teammates and is incredibly poised with the puck on his stick. He has all the tools to be an offensive star at the NHL level.
Next. Drouin thriving under Ducharme. dark
It will be interesting to see if Caufield starts with Montreal or Laval, but it won’t be long before he is a regular in the Canadiens lineup no matter where he is assigned initially.