Cole Caufield: Is this the year?

[Lafleurs Guy]

Nobody really cares about combining seasons to arrive at a total. Either you’ve done it in a season or have not. Matthews, Kooch, Pasta, rantanen, etc … you’ll never hear anything like “if you add this and that …”. lol

It’s the difference between proven and potential.

OTOH … those who said he wasn’t worthy of 8M or 1st line duties are pretty quiet rn.

Guy has proven to be a beast already. I’ve seen enough to say he’s going to be a 50 goal guy. Don’t worry, I’ll be here if I’m wrong.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Scoring 30 goals in a down year would be great. Hopefully, he can score 40 next season. I think you're way too optimistic if you think he can score 50 a season every year for most of his career.

Every year? I don’t think anyone has said that. Too high a bar. But I think he’ll hit 50 at some point. Probably more than once if he stays healthy.

 

[GoodKiwi]

If we were talking about a vet with many seasons I’d agree with you. But this is a special case. He has a limited resume because he hasn’t been in the league long.

82 over his first 48 with MSL is not a hot streak. It’s a large enough sample size to show that he has elite potential. And even when he wasn’t scoring this year his underlying numbers were really good. He might even hit forty despite that disastrous start.

The only time he’s played poorly for an extended period of time was when he was being used in the bottom six by DD. Wasted about 30-40 games there. Once MSL took over CC scored at close to a 50 goal pace from game one.

No need to make a proclamation on your side. But I will say that I think he’s a future 50+ goal guy. If I’m wrong so be it. But that’s what I think he is.

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you said.

Goal scorers peak quickly and, unless we're talking generational talent (Caufield ain't it), don't maintain their curve for long (relatively speaking). Coalfield has got 3-4 years to hit his very best IMO, so it's somewhat understandable why some here are impatient.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you said, except your very first sentence.

Goal scorers peak quick and, unless we're talking generational talent (Caufield ain't it), don't maintain their curve for long (relatively speaking). Coalfield has got 3-4 years to hit his very best IMO, so it's somewhat understandable why some here are impatient.

When you look at players who peak at 22 or 23 they’ve usually been in the league a while. CC is just starting his career and has already shown he can score a crap ton of goals.

 

[GoodKiwi]

When you look at players who peak at 22 or 23 they’ve usually been in the league a while. CC is just starting his career and has already shown he can score a crap ton of goals.

Sure, but, IMO, that tells us more about the players having what it takes to enter the league at 18.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Sure, but, IMO, that tells us more about the players having what it takes to enter the league at 18.

It’d be one thing if we were waiting on him to produce. But he’s already shown he can score at an elite level. 48 goals last year would’ve been good for fifth in the league.

Yes, it’s split between two years but that’s not important within the context of this discussion. His first 82 games being used as a first and he puts up 48… that’s insane. Not many players can do that.

 

[GoodKiwi]

It’d be one thing if we were waiting on him to produce. But he’s already shown he can score at an elite level. 48 goals last year would’ve been good for fifth in the league.

Yes, it’s split between two years but that’s not important within the context of this discussion. His first 82 games being used as a first and he puts up 48… that’s insane. Not many players can do that.

If the context of this discussion is to recognize that Caufield is one of the most prolific goal-scorers of his generation then, yes, it's very important to speak within it (the context).

I'm not here to argue he doesn't have the ability to score - I'm questioning where one might place him grade-wise.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If the context of this discussion is to recognize that Caufield is one of the most prolific goal-scorers of his generation then, yes, it's very important to speak within it (the context).

I'm not here to argue he doesn't have the ability to score - I'm questioning where one might place him grade-wise.

Relative to his 23 and under peers, he’s currently number one for goal scoring.

He hasn’t been in the league long enough to really ‘grade’ him except his potential. I personally see him as a guy who will reach fifty and challenge for some Richards in the future. Now maybe a guy like Bedard scores like 80 a year and blows that away but I think he’ll be a top five guy.

 

[SlafySZN]

Scoring 30 goals in a down year would be great. Hopefully, he can score 40 next season. I think you're way too optimistic if you think he can score 50 a season every year for most of his career.

Scoring 50 every year most of his career? No probably not. There’s not many who does it year after year. The habs would need to become an elite team for that. Can he score 50 at least once in his career? Yes.

 

[Deebs]

Scoring 50 every year most of his career? No probably not. There’s not many who does it year after year. The habs would need to become an elite team for that. Can he score 50 at least once in his career? Yes.

Can't see 50 happening but maybe 40 a couple of times if everything goes right. He's a 65-75 point player going forward and that's pretty good all things considered.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Can't see 50 happening but maybe 40 a couple of times if everything goes right. He's a 65-75 point player going forward and that's pretty good all things considered.

Question for you. Why can’t you see it happening? He’s generating shots at a rate of about 300 per year. At a shooting percentage of 16 that comes out to 48 goals a year. It’s simple math. He’s awfully close to 50 right there.

Yes, there will be years where he gets fewer shots or his percentage will fall - he was below 7 at one point this year - but the numbers show the guy should already be close to 50 in a normal year.

If he can up his shots just a little or bump up the percentage, he’s there.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Can't see 50 happening but maybe 40 a couple of times if everything goes right. He's a 65-75 point player going forward and that's pretty good all things considered.

Debrincat, with more consistency. … with continued improvements in his defensive game. The Basu fella said the Habs wanted him to be Gionta-like in that regard.

If he adds consistency I see him as a 40 goal guy. Give or take, depending on environment. Right now he’s the shooter - the main trigger guy. Now … let’s say they draft Eiserman and Slaf spends 4 months working on his shot. All of a sudden the wealth is spread around. The PP tactics change.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Question for you. Why can’t you see it happening? He’s generating shots at a rate of about 300 per year. At a shooting percentage of 16 that comes out to 48 goals a year. It’s simple math. He’s awfully close to 50 right there.

Yes, there will be years where he gets fewer shots or his percentage will fall - he was below 7 at one point this year - but the numbers show the guy should already be close to 50 in a normal year.

If he can up his shots just a little or bump up the percentage, he’s there.

I think he fluctuates between 45-55 a year. Oddly specific I know. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s perennially 40+.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I think he fluctuates between 45-55 a year. Oddly specific I know. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s perennially 40+.

That’s where I have him.

 

[badfish]

Habs feature in #1 and #2 top goals of the week on NHLs YouTube page. Beauty by Caufield against the Islanders is number 1.




Time stamp 4:01

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Habs feature in #1 and #2 top goals of the week on NHLs YouTube page. Beauty by Caufield against the Islanders is number 1.




Time stamp 4:01

One of the prettier goals scored by a Hab in a long time. Crazy hands.

 

[SlafySZN]

I'm just not crazy with you always bringing up that 'slump' lol
It could very well of been where he got hurt and was dealing with something for a bit, the reports last year were Suzuki had several bumps and bruises at certain points
That hasnt been the case this year, but you could tell last year he was nursing something a bit
(Cole had a pretty nasty slump earlier actually which affected Suzuki's numbers this year that could even have him PPG+, but I guess that's a separate issue?)

Despite Cole’s year? It’s a myth that Cole is having a bad year lol he is better at every aspect of his game, other than the goals total. On pace for 65 points.

I can still hear some people say, oh! What is he gonna do when he’s not scoring? He’ll transform as a playmaking winger apparently as he is showing now and he still has 6 goals in his last 12 games

 

[The Great Weal]

Despite Cole’s year? It’s a myth that Cole is having a bad year lol he is better at every aspect of his game, other than the goals total. On pace for 65 points.

He can still hear some people say, oh! What is he gonna do when he’s not scoring? He’ll transform as a playmaking winger apparently as he is showing now

I think it's more than fair to expect more than 65 points for Caufield given that we aren't expecting him to do anything else (i.e defensive game/physicality). Don't think there's anything to worry about, guy is a gamer.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Despite Cole’s year? It’s a myth that Cole is having a bad year lol he is better at every aspect of his game, other than the goals total. On pace for 65 points.

It comes back to expectations. On the surface 65 points would be a career high and he’ll likely get say 26, 27 goals which would be a career high.

But I highly doubt CC would be satisfied with it. Agree that his play was actually better than the results and he improved in a lot of ways so from a developmental standpoint it’s not a wasted season. But…

I said I’d be disappointed with under 40 goals this year and there’s a good chance he’ll be below 30. We’re talking about a guy who has truly elite numbers at a really young age. It’s a disappointing season from that standpoint.

Anyways, this belongs in another thread.

 

[SlafySZN]

I think it's more than fair to expect more than 65 points for Caufield given that we aren't expecting him to do anything else (i.e defensive game/physicality). Don't think there's anything to worry about, guy is a gamer.

The season after his surgery and his first full season? Not really. But he’s back now, and i have no doubt he’ll have way better seasons than this one in terms of goals/points. I just think he took a step in many aspects and now it’ll combine with the goals scoring in the next few years.

 

[The Great Weal]

The season after his surgery and his first full season? Not really.

Did you expect a 65 point season or were you one of the many posters here guaranteeing 40+ goals for Cole?

But he’s back now, and i have no doubt he’ll have way better season than this one in terms of goals/points.

So which is it, is the surgery affecting him, or is this who he is? You can't have it both ways.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The season after his surgery and his first full season? Not really. But he’s back now, and i have no doubt he’ll have way better seasons than this one in terms of goals/points. I just think he took a step in many aspects and now it’ll combine with the goals scoring in the next few years.

Let’s see how he finishes. He caught fire and now after the break can’t seem to find the net again.

Great that he had so many chances. Terrible that he missed the open net a few times last night. I know it’s a high bar but if you want to be called elite you need results.

 

[SlafySZN]

So which is it, is the surgery affecting him, or is this who he is? You can't have it both ways.

Of course coming back from a surgery will affect you. Like for Kirby next year, i won’t expect him to be fully himself for at least half a season like Caufield.

CC looks way more like himself in the last 20 games or so.

I get your post, I do

Don't mistake me someone who dislikes Cole, because I LOVE him
I tried to make a point, on purpose, to say he's not having a 'bad' year but a 'down' year by his ceilings standards as reflected by his shooting% and , if we're all honest, a bit less than expected goal totals

But I know more than anyone he isn't a 1 trick pony, and I watched entirely too many Wisconsin games that I wanted to because I like him that much to prove it lol
His point totals for a 'down year' are more than acceptable

Why you may think I'm just mindlessly slamming Cole is ONLY because of how often LG would bring up Cole in the Suzuki discussions

Where it 'looks' like LG 'hates' Suzuki but in actuality does not
I can assure you I do not 'hate' Cole Caufield either lol

We're all just praying these 2 become PPG players
And the debate is about : they need to do it together / do they really need to do it together basically lol

Oh don’t worry, i don’t think you hate Cole

It’s just funny that we would have a player scoring 65 points and calling it a down year when as habs fans we didn’t see many of those with our team the last few years lol

 

[Redux91]

Oh don’t worry, i don’t think you hate Cole

It’s just funny that we would have a player scoring 65 points and calling it a down year when as habs fans we didn’t see many of those with our team the last few years lol

its a new day, yes it is

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Of course coming back from a surgery will affect you. Like for Kirby next year, i won’t expect him to be fully himself for at least half a season like Caufield.

CC looks way more like himself in the last 20 games or so.


Oh don’t worry, i don’t think you hate Cole

It’s just funny that we would have a player scoring 65 points and calling it a down year when as habs fans we didn’t see many of those with our team the last few years lol

Comes down to expectations. If you have a player who scores 48 in 82, it stands to reason that you’ll expect at least 40 goals.

Were those expectations unrealistic? I don’t think so. Not when you look at his previous history, his age and his performance in the NHL. And if we look at the underlying numbers, you’d think he’d have made it pretty comfortably. He’s pacing for about 300 shots. A shooting percentage of about 13 would be good enough to get there.

Barring something crazy, I will project 40+ again next year. Hopefully he can do it because he’s a BIG part of our rebuild plans. He wasn’t given 8 mil for 25 goals and 65 points a year.

Players sometimes can have an off year. Hopefully that’s all this is. I felt a lot better when he went on his pre-all star game tear. Now he seems to have forgotten how to score again missing open nets. It’s disappointing but I still have faith. He’s been so consistent up until now.