Cole Caufield is having his finest season.
Cole Caufield is fun to watch. Having covered him a lot over the years, he is a bright a light. One of the most positive people you will ever meet and he has that smile. That’s just a part of the player.
Once he got a bit faster there was no stopping him. He always had a great shot and the way he continues to practice his shooting angles will prevent him from becoming predictable when teams video scout him for tendencies.
Last year, he played in all 82 games and had 28 goals. I felt since the beginning, he could be a 40-goal scorer like Alex DeBrincat. Getting 40 every season is difficult and DeBrincat couldn’t do that. I think Caufield can do 35 a season as an average. His power play prowess and his improved 5-on-5 scoring make this possible. He has 17 of his 24 goals that way this season.
My expectations for Caufield this season are 40 goals. He could get more but 40 is what the team needs to stay in the playoff race. Every contending team has to have a goal scorer that is money. He is taking fewer shots this season. His shooting percentage is 18.8%!
I still can’t believe he was left off the Four Nations roster. It’s not defensible, honestly. With the metrics I’ve laid out here, how could Team USA not want him on the team? Oh well, from a Canadiens' team perspective, he won’t have a chance to get hurt and he will be well-rested for the stretch drive this season and that’s the most important thing.