Cole Caufield: Is this the year?

[Lafleurs Guy]

Only in Montreal can a young player with 14 points in 15 games be criticized. It was the same thing with Suzuki. They are great players. Will they be the best forward on a Stanley Cup winning team? Probably not, but that's okay. We just gotta find someone that can actually play with them. You saw how they played when they had Dach with them and I'm confident they would have bounced back from their slump as all great players do.

Opposite of criticism. I have a really high opinion of him. I think he should be getting at least 40 goals a year. He's played really well and gotten snakebit on some chances. Apart from getting more shots, I think he's actually played really well. His passing game is terrific.

But there are certain players that you expect a certain level of performance from. If Crosby gets less than 100 points it was considered a sub par year, ditto if OV hit less than 50 goals. I see CC as an elite goalscorer. I expect him to compete for some Richards in the future. I think 40 goals should be his minimum this year. If he doesn't hit it I'll be disappointed. It's not criticism, it's high expectations and belief in a player. I think he'd good enough that he should be hitting 40 every year if he's healthy. He has more talent than any forward we've had probably since Richer (different skill sets) and I expect him to produce. I also expect his shooting percentage to improve. He'll be fine.

 

[JianYang]

Only in Montreal can a young player with 14 points in 15 games be criticized. It was the same thing with Suzuki. They are great players. Will they be the best forward on a Stanley Cup winning team? Probably not, but that's okay. We just gotta find someone that can actually play with them. You saw how they played when they had Dach with them and I'm confident they would have bounced back from their slump as all great players do.

Look at the hype on the first page. The amount of posts proclaiming that 50 goals is within reach.

The bar has been set very high, and that bar might skew the perception of how to define a good season for Cole.

 

[The Great Weal]

Opposite of criticism. I have a really high opinion of him. I think he should be getting at least 40 goals a year. He's played really well and gotten snakebit on some chances. Apart from getting more shots, I think he's actually played really well. His passing game is terrific.

People are criticizing his 5v5 play.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

People are criticizing his 5v5 play.

The checking is a lot tighter on him. The secret’s out, he’s the guy other teams need to stop. That might be why we see him passing a little more.

End of the day, his 5 on 5 numbers aren’t great in terms of production. But I think he’ll turn it around. Some of those pucks are going to go in. In the meantime he’s still producing. Almost a PPG is great.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Can’t buy a goal. Shooting percentage is now at 7.8.

Here’s how that shakes out

Current percentage

7.8 = 5/16 = 26 goals per 82

Career percentage = 13.2

13.2 = 8.4/16 = 43 per 82

Last year’s percentage = 16.5

16.5 = 10.5/16 = 54 per 82

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Is it too soon to start wondering if the shoulder surgery has affected his shot?

 

[nhlfan9191]

Is it too soon to start wondering if the shoulder surgery has affected his shot?

Yes because he’s shown multiple times this season that he has one of the best wrist shots in the league.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Yes because he’s shown multiple times this season that he has one of the best wrist shots in the league.

Are you being sarcastic? His shot % is like half of what it was since MSL came in.

 

[morhilane]

Is it too soon to start wondering if the shoulder surgery has affected his shot?

He has zero time and space (either for real or mentally) at 5v5 because he's not quite at the right place. Not only have team started to cover him more, he's also a lot more passive on the ice.

 

[Tyson]

He is getting some chances but at this rate he might not hit 20 goals.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Cc with 12 goals was not on my bingo card this year

 

[WeThreeKings]

He's gonna go on a stretch where he scores like 9 in 7 and restore his pace.

 

[Tabarouette]

he hasn't scored a non-OT goal since the 2nd game of the season

I rarely blame the team or the teammates for a player's struggles, but with CC it's very clear that he's trying hard but he's always double covered and there's nothing he can do, and it's ok for him to be super covered defensively because... well who else is gonna score, Anderson? Slaf? lol.

My man needs space just like what my ex told me

 

[Tyson]

he hasn't scored a non-OT goal since the 2nd game of the season

I rarely blame the team or the teammates for a player's struggles, but with CC it's very clear that he's trying hard but he's always double covered and there's nothing he can do, and it's ok for him to be super covered defensively because... well who else is gonna score, Anderson? Slaf? lol.

My man needs space just like what my ex told me

It's easy to smother Caufield when the supporting cast doesn't instill fear onto opposing teams.

He's gonna go on a stretch where he scores like 9 in 7 and restore his pace.

We can dream

 

[NORiculous]

I am not worried at all. He will get going.

Also, when someone else on the team will also be able to score regularly, things will open up for him even more.

 

[waffledave]

Put him with Monahan or Suzuki please.

 

[First Line]

I voted 30 goals for this year but he is playing a much better game. I see him being a PPG player for the first time since Kovalev

 

[CharleyHorse]

Are you being sarcastic? His shot % is like half of what it was since MSL came in.

Also wondering if MSL has asked him to change his game this year - focus more on playing “the game” (defensive awareness) rather than playing “his” game (scoring goals). Hopefully he and MSL can find a balance.

 

[Team_Spirit]

He tied last year assist total but in 29 less games.

Elite playmaker Cold Coffee

 

[Mrb1p]

Cole-Nick-Sean


Plz...

 

[Tyson]

Cole-Nick-Sean


Plz...

You are using logic...that has to stop

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He's gonna go on a stretch where he scores like 9 in 7 and restore his pace.

Yes.

And that can’t come soon enough.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Also wondering if MSL has asked him to change his game this year - focus more on playing “the game” (defensive awareness) rather than playing “his” game (scoring goals). Hopefully he and MSL can find a balance.

In a normal season he’d be pacing for a forty goal season. I don’t think his game has changed, I think pucks just aren’t going in.

At least he’s getting assistances. LSt year he went like 15 games without one - but that was weird too because his passing was good.

 

[Habs]

I understand what Cole is going through. In Beer league I find I am being checked tighter now because of my scoring prowess and I haven't scored in 9 games. I feel ya cole, I feel ya

 

[Sasha Orlov]

He badly needs line mates that can create some space for him, he is really struggling 5v5 right now

7’2 290lb 1st overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky should be the man for the job but haven’t seen it so far