When the 2019 NHL Entry Draft rolled around, Cole Caufield was a top 10 projected pick in many mock drafts, but when he fell to the renowned Montréal Canadiens at 15th overall, it only added more coal to the fire. Caufield is a 5-7, 162-pound Winger. In 2019, he played for the U.S. National Under-18 Team in the USDP (United States Development Program) and its Junior team, the USNTDP (United States National TeamDevelopment Program) in the USHL (United States Hockey League. Despite Cole’s 72 goals and 100 points in 64 USNTDP matches, his small size held him out of the top 10. After, he continued dominating, and now, his fire is taking in more coals as he is another step closer into the NHL.
After the disappointing draft fall, the super prospect opted to play at Wisconsin University with the Badgers in the NCAA for the 2020 season. With the Badgers, Caufield remained at a point per game, contributing in 19 goals and 17 assists in his 36 games, despite a November stretch seeing Caufield score just one goal in eight games. The performance enhanced the hype as he didn’t have Jack Hughes, the first overall pick in 2019, by his side, a concern that helped his draft demise. In December, as team USA was preparing for the World Junior Championships, Badgers Head Coach Tony Granato compared Caufield’s scoring to some all-time greats. He said to The Hockey News, “I think of Teemu Selanne, I think of Brett Hull, I think of Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk, guys who, if the puck is around them, they thin they’re scoring.” However, at the WJCs, Caufield disappointed. In five games, he notched just one goal and an assist. USA lost in the preliminary round, and Winsconsin’s season ended when they lost to Ohio State in the first round of the Big 10 Playoffs 2-0.
This season, Caufield is a beast. With Wisconsin, Caufield recorded a 30-goal season with 22 assists in 31 games. The performance earned him the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Award for top NCAA player. This year, the Badgers won a game in the Big Ten tournament against Penn State with a 4-3 overtime win, but Minnesota ended their season. In the NCAA tournament, Bemidji State beat them 3-6, with Caufield netting five goals and an assist in the three games! The World Juniors were more friendly as USA won a gold medal against their arch rival, Canada! In a match against Slovakia, on his birthday, Caufield nets one of his two goals to put the game out of reach, or so it seemed. In the end, Caufield had two goals, three assists, and a WJC gold medal.
Finally, Cole reached the pros with the Laval Rocket, Montreal’s American Hockey League affiliate. In his professional debut in the AHL, he scored twice and added an extra assist. When you watch the footage, you can see many of his shots generate scoring chances. Realistically, he could have had four or five goals if there was an extra finish. In his next game, Caufield deflects the game-winning goal with his skate, and the Rocket win. Now, more coals are being added to the fire as Caufield nears a day when he can prove the Habs right and the other 14 teams wrong at the highest level.
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