Cole Caufield: Is this the year?

[Sorinth]

If he plays a full season I'd be shocked if he doesn't at least hit 40. That said every 10 goals is harder then the last so 50 is definitely up in the air.

 

[Habs10Habs]

I went with 40+. I think one more year before he hits the big 5-0.

 

[Guess]

Definitely 50 if he stays healthy

 

[Skip Bayless]

72

 

[BLONG7]

Would also like to see us, return to 3F CC, KD, NS and two Dmen Matheson/Guhlie on our PP
Leave the Forwards especially out there, for almost the entire two minutes...the Dmen could change and let Barron hop on....

If that happens, and the PP clicks more Caufiled will have great success.

 

[Rapala]

Would also like to see us, return to 3F CC, KD, NS and two Dmen Matheson/Guhlie on our PP
Leave the Forwards especially out there, for almost the entire two minutes...the Dmen could change and let Barron hop on....

If that happens, and the PP clicks more Caufiled will have great success.

I think they will use Monahan before Ghule. Suzuki has been one of the few players to have success at that RD position. There is no doubt in my mind he's generated his best production from there. We don't have another player who is a dual threat with an ability to work the point and halfwall. This was evident going back to when Scorey Perry was playing the down low role. Ultimately Ghule would have to displace Matheson who I'm not completely sold on in terms of quick puck management.

 

[Scriptor]

Guhle would likely get a 2nd wave spot on the point, at this moment in the team's make-up.

Over the long haul, with Matheson gone, but Reinbacher, Hutson and Mailloux available for the PP at that point, plus a tendency to go with four forwards, I'm not certain that Guhle ever gets a spot on a first PP wave, if even a 2nd PP wave.

Is this a loss to the team? It certainly will be for Guhle's contract negotiations.

Even if Hutson and/or Mailloux just become PP specialists, it will have an effect on Guhle's stats if he rarely plays on the PP.

Unless MSL goes with natural pairings at even TOI on the PP and sends out Hutson-Reinbacher, followed by Guhle-Mailloux on the PP, something I consider plausible?

Reinbacher would be on the PP, able to support Hutson's creativity, but also to protect against turnovers at the same time. Same for Guhle with Mailloux.

 

[HuGort]

Cole Caufield has played 83 games under Martin St-Louis. He has 48 goals over that stretch...he is third in the NHL in 5v5 goals/60 over that span behind only Pastrnak and Matthews.

 

[LaP]

37 goals and 23 assists.

I hope if he scores 35 something goals people wont trash him and call him a flop. The expectations are a bit out of control honestly. Baby step.

 

[FerrisRox]

Who was the first one to do so since Lafleur 9-seasons prior…

The Habs had two fifty goal scorers in 1979-80. Lafleur was joined by Pierre Larouche.

 

[the valiant effort]

Just stay healthy.

 

[OldCraig71]

I hope if he scores 35 something goals people wont trash him and call him a flop. The expectations are a bit out of control honestly. Baby step.

I think that 35 goals would be a good accomplishment on a bottom-ten team like the Habs.

 

[Tyson]

A healthy Caufield becomes the Habs first 40 goal scorer since 1994

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

A healthy Caufield becomes the Habs first 40 goal scorer since 1994

I think that’s a safe bet. 50 is a tall order. If he doesn’t at least hit 40, a lot of people will be disappointed.

 

[Tyson]

I think that’s a safe bet. 50 is a tall order. If he doesn’t at least hit 40, a lot of people will be disappointed.

I think alot of folks are underestimating how skilled this team will be overall. If Cole stays healthy I think 40 is easily attainable.

 

[Rapala]

A healthy Caufield becomes the Habs first 40 goal scorer since 1994

Yeah I'd love to see him surpass Patch with very few to no empty netters and actually be a 40 goal scorer who scores 40 goals.

 

[Rapala]

I think alot of folks are underestimating how skilled this team will be overall. If Cole stays healthy I think 40 is easily attainable.

The key for me will be how much less time can we spend in our own zone this season. We definitely have talented players who would all benefit from more Ozone time while being less fatigued. It also just happens to be where more penalties end up getting called against the opposition.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Apart from both players staying healthy, If Suzuki scores 30+, Caufield scores 50, guaranteed.

Suzuki as a dual threat is instrumental in giving Caufield that split second more that he needs to unwind from a sweet spot on the ice.

Caufield's scoring pace is close to the same with and without Suzuki ever since MSL took over. In december, he barely played with Suzuki and scored 9 goals in 15 games.

What changes for Caufield with/without Suzuki are his assists. Since he's a scorer by nature, he gets way fewer assists when paired with weaker players.

 

[Mrb1p]

50 for Cole and 100 for Nick, book it, it's happening this year or the next.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Caufield's scoring pace is close to the same with and without Suzuki ever since MSL took over. In december, he barely played with Suzuki and scored 9 goals in 15 games.

What changes for Caufield with/without Suzuki are his assists. Since he's a scorer by nature, he gets way fewer assists when paired with weaker players.

Our team absolutely collapsed offensively when Monahan went down. CC was the only guy scoring and at one point was scoring a third of our team’s goals.

It doesn’t matter who he’s paired with as long as the puck is in the offensive zone. He generates a good amount of shots and if he can stay healthy I think he’ll hit 50. Personally, I’d split him between Dach and Nick. I like the idea of starting the year with Dach to get him going and gaining confidence.

CC’s a somewhat one dimensional player but he can snipe and that’s the most valuable thing a skater can contribute.

 

[Scriptor]

50 for Cole and 100 for Nick, book it, it's happening this year or the next.

Once the totals are combined over those two years? Sure. I say that happens before X-Mas in the 2nd year, for sure.

Our team absolutely collapsed offensively when Monahan went down. CC was the only guy scoring and at one point was scoring a third of our team’s goals.

It doesn’t matter who he’s paired with as long as the puck is in the offensive zone. He generates a good amount of shots and if he can stay healthy I think he’ll hit 50. Personally, I’d split him between Dach and Nick. I like the idea of starting the year with Dach to get him going and gaining confidence.

CC’s a somewhat one dimensional player but he can snipe and that’s the most valuable thing a skater can contribute.

CC's a much better passer than you give him credit for. He also has better D than most insinuate, although, obviously, he won't win many of the physical battles.

He is not, however, one-dimensional player.

That's why another sniper on that line could work and why I have high hopes a high IQ player like Roy can pan out on the right side of that line in time.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Once the totals are combined over those two years? Sure. I say that happens before X-Mas in the 2nd year, for sure.


CC's a much better passer than you give him credit for. He also has better D than most insinuate, although, obviously, he won't win many of the physical battles.

He is not, however, one-dimensional player.

That's why another sniper on that line could work and why I have high hopes a high IQ player like Roy can pan out on the right side of that line in time.

I have zero problem with his passing. The team collapsed, not his fault. He was still creating chances but nobody else could score.

He’s a small offensive player. In that sense he’s one dimensional. He’s never going to be a well rounded player. He’s simply not big enough to do what other players can.

That being said, he can score goals. He’s great in the offensive zone and is dangerous every time he’s out there. He’s also been extremely consistent since playing for MSL. Even when the club collapsed, he didn’t go with it. Played well and kept scoring. This was despite a publicized injury he played with for about a month. That’s what star players do. 48 goals in his last 83 is outstanding.

One dimensional is fine if you’re scoring at a 50 goal pace. If he can stay healthy, I think he establishes himself as a true star player this year. 50 goals is a tall order but he’s proven it’s a realistic target.

He has an outside chance at becoming a superstar. It will not surprise me at all if he wins a Richard at some point in his career.

 

[Scriptor]

I have zero problem with his passing. The team collapsed, not his fault. He was still creating chances but nobody else could score.

He’s a small offensive player. In that sense he’s one dimensional. He’s never going to be a well rounded player. He’s simply not big enough to do what other players can.

That being said, he can score goals. He’s great in the offensive zone and is dangerous every time he’s out there. He’s also been extremely consistent since playing for MSL. Even when the club collapsed, he didn’t go with it. Played well and kept scoring. This was despite a publicized injury he played with for about a month. That’s what star players do. 48 goals in his last 83 is outstanding.

One dimensional is fine if you’re scoring at a 50 goal pace. If he can stay healthy, I think he establishes himself as a true star player this year. 50 goals is a tall order but he’s proven it’s a realistic target.

He has an outside chance at becoming a superstar. It will not surprise me at all if he wins a Richard at some point in his career.

Three things:

ONE, I'm curious to see if and how the Habs will be able to find the appropriate RW for Caufield and Suzuki within the next two or three years, meaning that such a RW could complement their production by then?

For example, if it were Roy, Roy with two and a bit years experience as a pro.

Or, a trade acquisition already developed within that time frame.

Or an UFA to complete the line in two or three years.

TWO, I'm curious to see if Hughes hits it out of the ballpark with the Newhook acquisition? Will he be a genuine top-6 winger, or a 3rd line C, a 3rdline winger, or none of these?

I think, worse case scenario, he becomes a useful winger on a shutdown line with offensive upside, alongside Beck. Two speedy forwards with a good shot and good hands, both having solid defensive awareness. Potentially, also a solid PK pairing.

THREE: Every forward's offensive stats will jump a notch if the team D pans out as hoped:

Guhle - Reinbacher
Hutson - Engstrom
Xhekaj - Mailloux

With the bolded Ds as PP, options:

Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Mailloux

The key dates the 2027-2028 season, not before that.

By then, the oldest star forward will be Suzuki at only 28! Anderson will likely be traded by then. Gallagher won't be renewed.

Just by Suzuki's contract, there will be a clear three-year window for a Cup, starting that year.

By then, it's up to Gorton and Hughes to make sure they develop the promising D and acquire (draft trade, or UFA) themishing pieces up front.

Finally, they need to resolve the question of a genuine #1 G or, at the least, put together a strong 1A, 1B tandem, stronger than Allen- Montembeault. Anyhow,by then, Allen will no longer be part of the portrait in front of the net.

That leaves HuGo four years to build the next Cup winner for Montreal. By then, all the bad contracts, left over by Bergevin, will be gone, by attrition, at worst, if Hughes can't move them by then.

There won't be anything in the way that Hughes himself won't have created.

Four full years is also plenty of time to acquire other players if Newhook, Slafkovsky, Hutson and Mailloux don't pan out quite as expected.

On D, there are plenty of Plan Bs that are still solid if not everyone pans out, even if it means needing to add a missing piece, should all our best hopes end up souring.

Guhle (25) - ???
Matheson (33) - Reinbacher (22)
Xhekaj (26) - Barron (25)
Harris (27)

If we reach 2027-2028 with one missing forward and one missing D, selling immediate futures to acquire the missing pieces, with still such a young team, is definitely in the cards, especially if Hughes has handled the cap structure to leave enough room for the needed additions.

The future looks bright and, honestly, there seems be a plan in place.

Four years to go before we start to contend. We might even start sniffing the playoffs this year, but should get there the following year, or, at the latest, in 2025-2026.

Starting in 2027-2028, three stabs at grabbing that 25th Cup, now that BOS, TB, PIT, WAS, COL, VGK will either have moved into rebuild mode, or start being longer in the tooth.

How we perform in 2027-2028, 2028-2029 and 2029-2030 will determine if Montreal decides to goth way of a reset, or a rebuild again?

Suzuki will be 31, as the oldest core forward. Who knows what prospects might be knocking at the door at that point?

We could, conceivably, stretch it out three years or so before determining if we can stretch it pout three more years or so, or just decide to blow it up again.

My sixties as a hockey fan are looking up and the chances of seeing a 25th Cup before I die are greater than I had imagined over the last 30 years.

I knew we would never win a Cup as long as the #1C was Saku Koivu and I doubted that riding Price like a rented mule, at the expense of shoring up the offense, would ever work, barring a lot of luck.

Gorton and Hughes might not be perfect, but, at least, they seem to have a more global outlook for what a contending team needs to be and they caretaking the steps to assemble such a roster.

Still, thanks to Bergevin and Timmins for leaving some interesting pieces to the puzzle, beyond leaving the deadweight in bad contracts, on their way out the door!

Kudos where they are due and tomatoes for the lack of vision beyond very short time frames.

GO HABS GO!

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

50 for Cole and 100 for Nick, book it, it's happening this year or the next.

Especially if they can get that other guy to compliment them.

If/when Hutson comes I think it’ll be huge too. Especially on the PP.

A small detail is that Cole hitting 50 is more probable than Suzuki hitting 100. I think Cole could do 50 perennially. Suzuki doing a Hundred year in year out? Not so much.

Again it all depends who can be that 3rd guy and the PP situation. I can see Nick never hitting 100. Not saying he can’t or won’t but I think between 80-90 can happen easily.

 

[Mrb1p]

Especially if they can get that other guy to compliment them.

If/when Hutson comes I think it’ll be huge too. Especially on the PP.

A small detail is that Cole hitting 50 is more probable than Suzuki hitting 100. I think Cole could do 50 perennially. Suzuki doing a Hundred year in year out? Not so much.

Again it all depends who can be that 3rd guy and the PP situation. I can see Nick never hitting 100. Not saying he can’t or won’t but I think between 80-90 can happen easily.

Im seeing it at least once. Guys so skilled, theres no reasons he cant produce as much as that.