Canadiens: Storybook Performance for Cole Caufield in AHL Debut

It’s been an admittedly rough past few games for the Montreal Canadiens

Following back-to-back losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets, the team’s offensive dry spells of the past seem to be plaguing them once more. With the stage set for yet another rematch against the Jets on Saturday night, there’s hope that the Habs can turn things around and capitalize on what has been a less than tight playoff race in the North Division. With that in mind though, the talk of Montreal sports on Friday wasn’t on the Canadiens, or Paul Byron being placed on waivers for a third time, or the Toronto Maple Leafs inexplicably acquiring Riley Nash (don’t blame you for missing that one).

Instead, how about that Cole Caufield? Or, should I say, Goal Caufield? Yeah, no, maybe, alright.

Painful puns aside, there was a lot of news surrounding the former University of Wisconsin star on Saturday, aside from his much-anticipated professional debut with the Canadiens AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. Following an impressive 52 points (30 g, 22 a) over 31 games this past season, Caufield was awarded the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in Collegiate Hockey. A native of the small town of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Caufield has been impressing scouts ever since his earliest days with Stevens Point Area High School.

After joining the US National Development Program, Caufield put up some immensely impressive numbers both with the Program’s Development Team, and at the World Juniors with team USA. However, it wasn’t until the 2018-19 season where he truly took center stage as one of the shining stars of the US Development Program, and for the upcoming NHL draft. Playing alongside former first overall pick and current New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, Caufield put up a monstrous 72 goals and 100 points over 64 games with the US National U18 “A” team.

Following a Hobey Baker award winning season at the University of Wisconsin, Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield played to expectations in his AHL debut.

Couple this with an equally impressive 14 goals and 4 assists over 7 games at that year’s World Juniors, and hype began to surround Caufield and his NHL potential. There was just one catch, he came in at just 5’07 and 162 pounds. In spite of the NHL’s continuing progression towards guys like Caufield being given first round implications, the “size matters” belief is one that has continued, and will likely never cease, to influence NHL GM’s drafting decisions.

While this meant that Caufield’s stock fell further in the draft than would be expected considering his numbers, Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin ultimately called his name with the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, Caufield has become the jewel of the Montreal Canadiens pipeline, a high honor considering the number of talented prospects the Canadiens possess. Following the conclusion of his two-year stint at Wisconsin, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with Montreal on March 27th.

Now having just played his first professional game with Laval, how did he fare? Do I really even need to answer that question. Playing alongside Yannick Veilleux and Jordan Weal on the Rocket’s second line, Caufield posted two goals and an assist as the Rocket stormed to a 5-3 win over the Toronto Marlies. The Rocket’s performance this season is something I’ve been meaning to talk about over the last little while, but I’ll sum up my thoughts as best I can here. With a 18-5-2 record, the Rocket are the best team in the AHL. Joel Teasdale has been great, as has Ryan Poehling, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard, and Weal, and Michael McNiven, and Cayden Primeau, and Joseph Blandisi, and well you get my point.

After year after year of mediocre if not downright bad performances from a team lacking in much depth or support from up top, the Rocket finally have the offensive and defensive depth they’ve long been lacking in, and let me tell you, it’s a sight for sore eyes, and Caufield’s inclusion is just the icing on the cake. Veilleux and Weal were solid choices by Rocket head coach Joel Bouchard, to compliment Caufield in his first game, with both having vast AHL experience, and different roles to suit his shoot-first motif.

Veilleux has seen a complete and total reformation since signing a PTO with the Rocket early last season, having gone from being a serviceable fourth line checker to a talented power forward capable of contributing offensively night after night. In spite of some less-than-ideal decisions that have landed him two separate suspensions thus far, his 12 points over 16 games is a welcome sight for the veteran winger, and he’s been the Rocket’s best story over these past two seasons. Weal’s offensive hiccups he simply couldn’t figure out in Montreal have been blooming full form in Laval, and his pass first approach perfectly complimented Caufield in his debut. With 21 points over 24 games, he’s been everything and more that he was when he won a Calder Cup with the Manchester Monarchs in 2014-15.

Simply put, Caufield’s pro debut couldn’t have gone any better, and there’s nowhere to go but up for this now Hobey Baker alumni. While the award has been hit and miss in regard to its production of NHL talent (Robb Stauber, anyone?), I have no doubt in my mind Caufield has the potential to be that and more for the Canadiens, with excellent awareness, skating, and that shot. Oh, that shot. Lethal from any angle, any position, Caufield is a complete and total threat in the slot.

Following such a storybook debut, I couldn’t be more excited to see where Caufield goes from here, and as the Canadiens look to rebound from a rough recent stretch, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cole Caufield, becomes a serious reason why.