The Montreal Canadiens are getting ready for another season of Habs hockey. One of the players hoping to come back and have a strong season is Cole Caufield. The former first-round pick from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is heading into year three with the Canadiens.
He made his debut with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2020-21 season, logging just ten games. But last season, he was a familiar face with the Canadiens and is looking to come back in year three and really anchor a role down with this team’s offense.
He earned Calder votes after playing in 67 games, scoring 23 goals and adding 20 assists for 43 total points on the season. The Canadiens have to be hoping he can come back and produce similarly during the 2022-23 season.
Caufield is doing all of the right things and has even tried to bulk up a bit. This offseason, he has reportedly added some weight to his frame, according to Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette. Cowan mentioned in a recent article that Caufield received some comments about bulking up this offseason.
The article later states Caufield added five pounds to his frame and should be in a position to get off to a good start during the 2022-23 season.
Montreal Canadiens Cole Caufield bulked up this summer.
One of the biggest knocks on Caufield during his career has been his size and his frame. He’s listed as 5-foot-7 and 162 pounds on his Hockey Reference profile. So the added muscle will help his size/frame. He’s 21 years old, so he is still filling out his frame.
Cowan’s article makes it seem like Caufield has learned a lot in his young career with the Habs organization. Especially after being around for a Stanley cup run and then finishing last, there’s a lot of learning to be done on both ends of the spectrum.
As the 2022-23 season comes into focus and training camp opens up, Caufield will be looking to look to get back on the ice and get the right foot forward. With a bulked-up frame and more muscle, he’s hoping that he can increase his performance.
For Caufield, being stronger with the stick, stronger on the puck, and just using that muscle overall in his game will only help him. There’s just a ton to like about Caufield already, and even a change like adding five pounds is a big deal for him.
The Habs must be excited about what Caufield can do in 2022-23. The odds are that he will slot in on the first line alongside Nick Suzuki. The team’s newest captain and Caufield will be looking to establish themselves this season with the Canadiens.