ESPN low-balls Cole Caufield's goal total in 2024-25 projections

ESPN recently released their 2024-25 NHL projections in conjunction with their fantasy team. The company aimed to project individual stats for all Canadiens players, which ended in some head-scratching decisions. One of those decisions was to say that Cole Caufield's goal total would decline from his 2023-24 season.

ESPN's 2024-25 Cole Caufield Projection

78 GP, 27 G, 34 A, 61 Pts, 17 PP Pts

ESPN has a contradicting set of data in their Cole Caufield projection. The projection states, "The crazy thing is that Caufield's 8.9 percent shooting percentage was by far the lowest of his career, suggesting some positive regression is due this coming campaign." It doesn't make sense that ESPN then projected that Caufield would score one fewer goal than his 2023-24 campaign.

Caufield's 2023-24 season was an example of him trying to become a better all-around player. He improved his playmaking numbers and his two-way game, but his bread-and-butter is as a sniper. ESPN projected his assists totals to drop this upcoming season, but if that's the case, I can only see his goal total increasing.

My 2024-25 Cole Caufield Projection

80 GP, 34 G, 36 A, 70 Pts, 24 PP Pts

Caufield finished 2023-24 with 28 goals and 37 assists. The first line of Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, and Caufield emerged as a force in the Atlantic Division. It wasn't their fault for the lack of success in Montreal last season, as the rest of the team didn't generate enough depth.

The first line could get better looks this season if Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook remain healthy. It will also improve the look of their powerplay if they can add Dach as a threat. The opposing defenses will have to give the Canadiens more respect, which could open up Caufield to improve on his 8.9% shooting percentage from last season.

I expect Caufield to reach a new career-high in goals and continue his growth as the Canadiens first-line scoring winger.