December breakout stars: One Canadiens player is heating up

The Montreal Canadiens weren’t supposed to go anywhere, and they aren’t. But at least one player is giving fans more than a reason to keep watching.

Nov 27, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing  Cole Caufield (13) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Nov 27, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images | Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens 2024-25 season was going to be a wash, and they’re confirming what we already knew. Losers in 16 of their first 24 games (13 in regulation), the Habs will find themselves in better contention to land James Hagens than they will of landing a playoff spot. 

But for this season, that’s okay, as the Canadiens just need to keep acquiring talent so they can start changing the narrative of perpetual losing that continues to haunt them. One of those talents has been going out of his way all season to prevent that, and lately, he’s taken it up another notch, and that player is winger Cole Caufield. 

It started against the Columbus Blue Jackets when Caufield picked up his 13th goal of the year, and that onslaught hasn’t stopped in the ensuing two contests. On November 30th, he had a one-goal, two-point night in a loss to the New York Rangers before he struck twice in the Centennial Game against the Boston Bruins. 

Yeah, there were a few reasons to tune into that Habs-Bruins game, and despite the loss, Caufield once again made it look memorable. So, what does his overall stat line look like at this point in the season, and where will he go from here?

Cole Caufield is solidifying cornerstone status as Canadiens struggle

Caufield trails only Nick Suzuki in points, but he’s light years ahead in goals, with 16 so far on the season and a legendary 25.4 shooting percentage. Suzuki is second on the team in finding the net, and get this: He’s scored just nine times so far, giving Caufield a seven-goal cushion heading into Tuesday night’s matchup with the New York Islanders. 

The Habs haven’t won often, and that will remain the theme this season, but they can count on Caufield to give them a few more W’s, as he’s got three game-winning goals so far, plus seven on the power play. No, he won’t be winning any end-of-season awards this year, yet you can’t help but wonder what he’s got in store for us once he’s well into his prime. 

Hey, stay tuned and keep a close eye on Caufield as we continue our jaunt into December. He’s been phenomenal all year, but his recent uptick in scoring might foreshadow an unforgettable month to close out the calendar year. At the absolute least, expect Caufield to continue playing good, consistent hockey, but there’s no way to put a cap on his potential. 

Schedule