Cole_Caufield

Cole Caufield

Cole Caufield

American ice hockey player (born 2001)

Cole Caufield (born January 2, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 15th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Quick Facts Born, Height ...

Following success with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP), Caufield played for the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons. At Wisconsin, he won the Hobey Baker Award and was the leading goal and point-scorer for the 2020–21 NCAA season.

Internationally, Caufield has represented the United States in numerous tournaments including winning a gold medal at the U17 WHC, a silver and bronze medal at the 2018 U18 WJC and 2019 U18 WJC respectively, and a gold medal at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Early life

Caufield was born in Mosinee, Wisconsin, to a hockey-playing family.[1] He started skating at the age of two after seeing his older brother, Brock, skate.[2] In addition to ice hockey, Caufield also played baseball and football as a child. His father, Paul, taught him to shoot from the right as he believed that right shots have an easier angle to access a goaltender's glove hand.[3] He played Bantam AAA ice hockey for Team Wisconsin and played for Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH), scoring 75 goals in two seasons for a total of 145 points before joining the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) in Plymouth, Michigan in 2017.[4][5] On November 19, 2017, he made a verbal commitment to play collegiate hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.[6]

In his first year with the USNTDP, Caufield led the combined U-17 and U-18 team with 54 goals and 26 assists, falling one goal short of Auston Matthews' single season record of 55 goals set during the 2014–15 season.[7] In the 2018–19 season, he scored 72 goals and 28 assists, overtaking Phil Kessel's all time USNTDP goal record and Matthews' single season goal record.[8]

Leading up to the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Caufield was considered a top prospect and was ranked eighth by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau amongst North American skaters.[9][10] On June 21, 2019, he was drafted 15th overall in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens.[11] During the summer of 2019, he attended the Canadiens' development camp.[12]

Playing career

Collegiate

Caufield played ice hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2019 to 2021.[13] During his rookie season, he recorded 19 goals and 17 assists in 36 games, leading the Big Ten in goals scored and winning the Big Ten scoring title. Following his rookie campaign, Caufield was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, First-Team All-Big Ten and was also the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, becoming the second Badger to win the award after Trent Frederic in 2017.[14][15]

After his freshman year, despite the uncertainty of the 2020–21 NCAA ice hockey season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he opted to not turn professional with the Canadiens and returned for his sophomore season with Wisconsin, saying that "best thing for me was to come back, get another year, get stronger and faster and dominate more and become more of a leader".[16]

During his sophomore season, he led the NCAA with 30 goals and 52 points in 31 games and was the first back-to-back Big Ten scoring champion. Following his outstanding season, he was selected to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team and the Big Ten All-Tournament Team. He was also selected unanimously to First-Team All-Big Ten and as the Big Ten Player of the Year.[13] On April 9, 2021, Caufield was named to the AHCA First-Team All-American and won the 2021 Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men's ice hockey player, becoming the second Badger to win the award after Blake Geoffrion in 2010.[17][18]

Professional

2020–present

On March 27, 2021, Caufield ended his collegiate career, signing a three-year entry level contract with the Montreal Canadiens.[19][20] After the conclusion of his sophomore season, he was first assigned to the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Laval Rocket.[21] He made his professional debut for the Rocket on April 9, recording two goals and one assist in a 5–3 win against the Toronto Marlies.[22] After playing only two games for Laval, Caufield was recalled to the Canadiens' taxi squad on April 16 and was unable to be assigned to the Canadiens' active roster due to salary cap issues.[23] After injuries to Paul Byron and Jonathan Drouin, on April 26, Caufield, as an emergency recall, made his NHL debut in a 2–1 victory over the Calgary Flames.[24] On May 1, he scored his first NHL goal in a 3–2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators.[25] Two days later, in a 3–2 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he became only the third player in NHL history to score his first two career goals in overtime.[26] He concluded the NHL regular season with four goals and an assist in ten games played.[27]

After being a healthy scratch for the first two games in the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, on May 24, Caufield made his NHL playoff debut in a 2–1 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[28] On June 14, he scored his first NHL playoff goal in a 4–1 Stanley Cup semifinal loss against the Vegas Golden Knights.[29][30] On June 24, he scored the go-ahead goal in the Canadiens' series-clinching win over Vegas. In the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, Caufield recorded three assists en route to a series loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.[31] He ultimately appeared in twenty games with four goals and eight assists in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.[32]

Caufield entered the 2021–22 NHL season as a favorite to win the Calder Memorial Trophy.[33][34] However, he struggled midst the Canadiens' poor start, recording a single assist in his first ten games.[35] On November 1, he was sent down to play for the Laval Rocket, where he scored two goals and three assists in six games.[36] The Canadiens recalled him to the roster on November 18.[37]

Both he and the team continued to struggle, and after thirty games played he had only one goal and seven assists. In February, new general manager Kent Hughes sacked coach Dominique Ducharme and replaced him with retired star forward Martin St. Louis. Caufield quickly saw his ice time increase under St. Louis, returning to the team's first line alongside Nick Suzuki and Josh Anderson, and scored six goals in his next seven games, along with four assists.[38][39][40] He was named the team's player of the month for the first time for February.[41] On March 15, Caufield scored two goals in eight seconds in a game against the Arizona Coyotes, the fastest two-goal performance for the Canadiens since Stéphane Richer in 1987.[42] He was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for March 2022, a period in which he led all rookies in goals (7) and total points (15). He was the first Canadiens player to receive this distinction since Carey Price in March 2008.[43] In the final game of the season, Caufield scored his first career hat-trick in a 10–2 victory over the Florida Panthers. He finished the season with 23 goals, tied for second in rookie goal-scoring behind Tanner Jeannot of the Nashville Predators with 24.[44]

The 2022–23 season was expected to be a development year for the rebuilding Canadiens. With Caufield and Suzuki an established duo on the team's first line, coach St. Louis began experimenting with different players in the other wing position. The early games saw Anderson, Sean Monahan and Mike Hoffman rotate through. The position was next given to Kirby Dach, the former 2019 third overall selection acquired by the Canadiens in the off-season with the initial expectation that he would play centre.[45] The Caufield–Suzuki–Dach line generated strong initial results.[46][47][48] On December 1, Caufield played his 100th career NHL game, and scored the game-winning goal, his 40th in the league.[49] His 40 goals in his first 100 games was the fourth-highest for a Canadiens player in the preceding ninety years, behind only "Rocket" Richard, Jean Béliveau, and Bernie Geoffrion.[50] After scoring 26 goals and 10 assists in 46 games, it was announced on January 21 that Caufield required surgery for a shoulder injury that he had been playing through for some time, and that as a result his season was over.[51]

Following the completion of his entry-level contract in advance of the 2023–24 season, Caufield signed a new eight-year, $62.8 million contract with the Canadiens on June 5, 2023.[52]

International play

Quick Facts Medal record, Representing United States ...

Caufield has represented the United States internationally. In 2017, Caufield was selected to the World U-17 Hockey Challenge (U17 WHC), where he tallied eight goals and five assists in six games, helping the United States win a gold medal. He led the tournament in goals scored and was named to the U17 WHC All-Star Team.[53] He helped the United States place first at the 2017 Four Nations Cup in Russia, he won gold, appearing in three games with six goals and one assist.[54] At the 2018 IIHF World U-18 Championship, he notched six points in seven games, helping the team win a silver medal.[55]

Caufield would continue his stellar play internationally in the following season. In late 2018, the United States won the 2018 Five Nations Cup in the Czech Republic, as he recorded seven goals and two assists in four games.[56] On April 27, 2019, Caufield tied Alex Ovechkin's single tournament goals record with 14 goals scored at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championship (U18 WJC), en route to a bronze medal.[57] He was named the Most Valuable Player, Best Forward, and to the U18 WJC All-Star Team for the tournament.[58]

In 2021, Caufield was selected to the IIHF World Junior Championship, recording two goals and three assists in seven games, helping the United States win a gold medal.[59]

Personal life

Caufield's older brother, Brock, played for the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team.[60] Their father, Paul, born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, played for the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (UWSP) from 1988–92 and remains the team's all-time leading scorer.[61][62] He returned to UWSP in 2002 to work as an assistant coach, but resigned in 2006 to assume his current position as manager of Ice Hawks Arena.[61][63] Their grandfather, Wayne Caufield, a member of the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame since 2011, played semi-professional hockey from 1963–76 for numerous teams, most notably the USHL's Milwaukee Admirals, and spent over two decades coaching youth hockey and managing hockey clinics in the Milwaukee area following his retirement.[64][65] He died on July 13, 2018.[65]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

More information Regular season, Playoffs ...

International

More information Year, Team ...

Awards and honors

More information Award, Year ...

Records

USA Hockey National Team Development Program:

References

  1. [1]
    Harbit, Bailey (November 20, 2018). "Mosinee native, former SPASH hockey player Caufield signs with Badgers". WSAW-TV. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  2. [2]
    Gordon, Sean (June 22, 2019). "The ascension of Cole Caufield from teary-eyed toddler to rink rat to prolific scorer". The Athletic. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  3. [3]
    Basu, Arpon (March 29, 2021). "The moments that prepared Cole Caufield for the Canadiens spotlight". The Athletic. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  4. [4]
    Williams, Scott (February 25, 2016). "Hockey is a part of the Caufield lineage". Stevens Point Journal. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  5. [5]
    Manderfeld, Noah (April 28, 2021). "Looking back at Cole Caufield's 'crazy' career at SPASH". WSAW-TV. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  6. [6]
    Milewski, Todd (November 20, 2017). "Badgers men's hockey: Five-star prospect Cole Caufield commits to Wisconsin". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  7. [7]
    Pronman, Corey (May 29, 2019). "Pronman: Why you shouldn't underestimate prospect Cole Caufield". The Athletic. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  8. [8]
    Peters, Chris (May 1, 2019). "The curious case of Cole Caufield: How high will the diminutive scorer be drafted?". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  9. [9]
    "2019 Draft Prospect Rankings". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  10. [10]
    Schoen, David (June 18, 2019). "Size doesn't matter for NHL draft prospect Cole Caufield". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  11. [11]
    Mercer, Pierre-Antoine (June 21, 2019). "Canadiens select Cole Caufield 15th overall in 2019 NHL Draft". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  12. [12]
    Cowan, Stu (July 31, 2019). "Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield scores a beauty for Team USA". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  13. [13]
    "Wisconsin Badgers: Cole Caufield". University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  14. [14]
    Milewski, Todd (March 18, 2020). "Cole Caufield plans to return for second season with Badgers men's hockey team". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on May 23, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  15. [15]
    Milewski, Todd (May 12, 2020). "Badgers' Cole Caufield named Big Ten Freshman of the Year; Wyatt Kalynuk joins him on all-league first team". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  16. [16]
    Milewski, Todd (May 13, 2020). "Cole Caufield sets wider goal for second season with Badgers men's hockey team: 'I have a lot more to prove'". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  17. [17]
    "Wisconsin's Cole Caufield wins 2021 Hobey Baker Memorial Award". National Collegiate Athletic Association. April 9, 2021. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  18. [18]
    Schlossman, Brad Elliott (April 10, 2021). "Cole Caufield beats out Shane Pinto for Hobey Baker Award; UND has an NCAA-best three All-American picks". Grand Forks Herald. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  19. [19]
    "Three-year, entry-level contract for forward Cole Caufield". National Hockey League. March 27, 2021. Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  20. [20]
    Cowan, Stu (March 30, 2021). "Canadiens make Cole Caufield a rich 20 year old". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  21. [21]
    Cowan, Stu (March 29, 2021). "Stu Cowan: Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield will join the Laval Rocket". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  22. [22]
    Cowan, Stu (April 9, 2021). "Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield has fun in his AHL debut with Rocket". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  23. [23]
    Cowan, Stu (April 16, 2021). "Stu Cowan: Canadiens promote Caufield, but debut delayed by cap woes". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  24. [24]
    Leijon, Erik (April 26, 2021). "Liveblog replay: Habs beat Flames 2-1 in Caufield's debut". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  25. [25]
    Basu, Arpon; Godin, Marc Antoine (May 2, 2021). "Canadiens' Cole Caufield scores first NHL goal to beat Senators in OT". The Athletic. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  26. [26]
    "Caufield scores second overtime winner as Canadiens edge Maple Leafs". Sportsnet. May 3, 2021. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  27. [27]
    Cowan, Stu (May 15, 2021). "Canadiens Notebook: Habs hit the ice for practice to prepare for Maple Leafs". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  28. [28]
    Basu, Arpon (May 25, 2021). "The problems plaguing the Canadiens against the Maple Leafs have been all too predictable". The Athletic. Archived from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  29. [29]
    Pickens, Pat (June 14, 2021). "Caufields go crazy after Canadiens forward scores first playoff goal". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  30. [30]
    Cowan, Stu (June 14, 2021). "Canadiens' Cole Caufield scores first playoff goal in loss to Vegas". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  31. [31]
    Farrell, Sean (June 25, 2021). "Canadiens defeat Golden Knights in Game 6, advance to Stanley Cup Final". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  32. [32]
    Manderfeld, Noah (November 1, 2021). "Montreal Canadiens send Cole Caufield down to the AHL". WSAW-TV. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  33. [33]
    Spiegel, Jackie (July 4, 2021). "Why Canadiens' Cole Caufield can be America's next star". Sporting News. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  34. [34]
    Gretz, Adam (September 13, 2021). "NHL Power Rankings: 2021-22 Calder Trophy candidates". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  35. [35]
    Cowan, Stu (December 5, 2021). "Tough start to season for Canadiens' Cole Caufield". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  36. [36]
    "Canadiens' Cole Caufield sent down to Laval Rocket, team's AHL affiliate". The Athletic. November 1, 2021. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  37. [37]
    Cowan, Stu (November 18, 2021). "Canadiens call up Cole Caufield from Laval Rocket". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  38. [38]
    Ellis, Steven (February 22, 2022). "Cole Caufield has found his form with Martin St. Louis". The Hockey News. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  39. [39]
    Cowan, Stu (February 24, 2022). "Martin St. Louis's culture shift clicking for Canadiens". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  40. [40]
    D'Amours, Tristan (February 23, 2022). "Suzuki, Caufield stay hot as Canadiens clobber Sabres for 4th straight win". CBC Sports. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  41. [41]
    "Cole Caufield earns Molson Cup for February". National Hockey League. March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  42. [42]
    Wilde, Brian (March 15, 2022). "Montreal Canadiens dropped by the Arizona Coyotes 6-3". Global News. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  43. [43]
    "Canadiens' Caufield Named NHL 'Rookie of the Month' for March". National Hockey League. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  44. [44]
    "Caufield scores first hat trick, Canadiens end season with rout of Panthers". Sportsnet. April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  45. [45]
    Engels, Eric; Vingan, Adam (November 1, 2022). "Analyzing which Canadiens winger is the best fit with Caufield and Suzuki". Sportsnet. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  46. [46]
    Hickey, Pat (November 6, 2022). "Chemistry of Caufield, Dach, Suzuki line is paying dividends". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  47. [47]
    Basu, Arpon (November 6, 2022). "The Canadiens are a Rubik's Cube that Martin St. Louis has only begun to solve". The Athletic. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  48. [48]
    D'Amico, Marco (November 6, 2022). "Martin St-Louis Praises Kirby Dach's Play On Canadiens' Top Line". Montreal Hockey Now. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  49. [49]
    Blades, Justin (December 2, 2022). "Cole Caufield gets his 40th career goal in NHL game #100". Habs Eyes on the Prize. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  50. [50]
    TSN Stats Centre [@StatsCentre] (December 2, 2022). "Most goals scored by a @CanadiensMTL player within their first 100 career NHL games (since the league permitted offensive zone forward passes in 1929-30):" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  51. [51]
    Godin, Marc Antoine (January 21, 2023). "Canadiens' Cole Caufield out for season with right shoulder injury". The Athletic. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  52. [52]
    "Canadiens, Cole Caufield agree to eight-year, $62.8M contract extension". Sportsnet. June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  53. [53]
    "U.S. National Under-17 Team Wins World U17 Hockey Challenge". USA Hockey National Team Development Program. November 12, 2017. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  54. [54]
    "U17s Defeat Russia, 2-1 in Shootout; Win 2017 Under-17 Four Nations". USA Hockey National Team Development Program. December 16, 2017. Archived from the original on December 21, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  55. [55]
    "Cole Caufield at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  56. [56]
    "U.S. National Under-17 Team Wins 2018 Under-17 Five Nations". USA Hockey Team Development Program. February 18, 2018. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  57. [57]
    Morin, Richard (April 29, 2019). "Meet the Kyler Murray of the NHL Draft: Cole Caufield is a 5-foot-7 scoring phenom". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  58. [58]
    Kemmeter, John (May 2, 2019). "Caufield ties goal record, named MVP of World Championship". Stevens Point News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  59. [59]
    Milewski, Todd (January 6, 2021). "Alex Turcotte, Cole Caufield win gold at World Junior Championship". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  60. [60]
    "Badgers men's hockey: Five-star prospect Cole Caufield commits to Wisconsin". Wisconsin State Journal. November 20, 2017.
  61. [61]
    Willes, Ed (June 22, 2019). "Ed Willes: Size doesn't matter for Cole Caufield, who's out to prove his doubters wrong". Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  62. [62]
    Williams, Scott A. (February 25, 2016). "Hockey is a part of the Caufield lineage". Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  63. [63]
    Bates, Greg (August 2018). "Family Values: A Passion For The Game Runs Through The Caufield Bloodlines". USA Hockey Magazine.
  64. [64]
    Shoust, Christopher (February 4, 2017). "Sault Legends: Wayne Caufield". Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  65. [65]
    "Wayne Caufield". Legacy.com. July 15, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  66. [66]
    "Boston College, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin lead way with three All-American college hockey players apiece for '20-21 season". USCHO.com. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  67. [67]
    "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". BigTen.org. May 11, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  68. [68]
    "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". BigTen.org. March 16, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  69. [69]
    Aykroyd, Lucas (April 28, 2019). "Caufield Named MVP". iihf.com. IIHF. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  70. [70]
    "All-Time NTDP Record Book". USA Hockey. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  71. [71]
    "U18MWC Record Book". Team USA Hockey. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  72. [72]
    "Un record de la LNH pour Cole Caufield". TVA Sports (in French). July 6, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
More information Awards and achievements ...
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Cole_Caufield, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.