Cole Caufield turning into a legit superstar

[BenchBrawl]

Ignore the stats, which are good. Watching Caufield now, he has that absolute self-confidence in his abilities, and is one of the most exciting players Montreal has seen for a long time, with Kovalev being an oasis in the late-2000s.

When Montreal drafted him, I thought Caufield would be a mere sniper, someone who would finish the plays and that's it. But he's becoming so much more than that. He's very dangerous in the offensive zone, is a much better stickhandler than I expected, and honestly he reminds me of Patrick Kane, without saying he'll be as good. He just has that clutch aura of the guy who will score the big goal and elevate his play in the big moments.

It helps that Nick Suzuki is also blossoming simultaneously as an all-around #1 center.

Overall, I wonder if Caufield isn't about to turn into the best Montreal winger since Guy Lafleur. For now I still prefer peak 2008 Kovalev, but it's close and CC is just getting started. He certainly has that swagger that characterized both Lafleur's and Kovalev's careers in MTL.

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[Just A Bit Outside]

Superstar is a stretch.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Superstar is a stretch.

I mean, he's dangerously looking like a 50 goals scorer right now, and certainly 40 goals. He's exciting. It's not just about the stats.

What he's doing doesn't feel like a hot streak. He could have even more goals already.

 

[lomiller1]

His shooting % looks unsustainable to me, at least at 5v5 where he's close to 19%. If you look at 5v5 unblocked shot attempts he's sitting at 14.3% while his expected shooting percentage is only 6.8%.

 

[Habsrule]

He is so dangerous in the offensive zone. He has to be up there in the top 5 or 10 in the league with fastest releases and that is what he relies on. He sure snipes some goals with it. His play making ability is really good too.

Someone above me said that superstar is a stretch but he is a legit 40 goal per season threat. He also had 14 points over the first 12 games of the season. Dach has started playing on the line with Caufield and Suzuki about 5 games ago or so and they all have great chemistry together. Their’s a lot of season left to play for him to prove me wrong but I don’t feel like he will. He does have superstar potential.

 

[Kennedys]

If he score 50 goals 12 seasons in a row he might maybe considered a decent player

 

[TheNumber4]

Legit hot streak more like it.


I kid, I like Cauffield.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Let's see if he can pass 43 points first.

 

[General Fanager]

I am excited about his future with The Habs but why don't we wait a few seasons before we shoot around titles for no reason....

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

I am excited about his future with The Habs but why don't we wait a few seasons before we shoot around titles for no reason....

That’s ridiculous.. he’s about to turn into the best Montreal winger since Guy Lafleur

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Superstar is a stretch.

maybe, but :

goals since feb 10 2022 - Google Search

Only Kaprizov, Matthews, McDavid, and Tage Thompson have scored more goals than he has since Marty st. Louis took over.

30 goals (49 points) in 49 GP under Marty thus far. More goals than Stamkos, Ovechkin, and Drai during this span.

He's on his way if this keeps up

 

[Haatley]

maybe, but :

goals since feb 10 2022 - Google Search

Only Kaprizov, Matthews, McDavid, and Tage Thompson have scored more goals than he has since Marty st. Louis took over.

30 goals (49 points) in 49 GP under Marty thus far. More goals than Stamkos, Ovechkin, and Drai during this span.

He's on his way if this keeps up

If only the season was played from. February 10th until November 7th with 2.5 months of nothing in the middle of it.

 

[Tanknation]

His passing is just as good as his shooting too. Very good playmaker.

If only the season was played from. February 10th until November 7th with 2.5 months of nothing in the middle of it.

For a kid his age, that progression and stretch of hockey is very good. Clearly coming into his own and showing signs of a

 

[BenchBrawl]

That’s ridiculous.. he’s about to turn into the best Montreal winger since Guy Lafleur

Indeed

 

[Weztex]

Let's see if he can pass 43 points first.

I love that you're true to yourself and doubling down on your obsessive hate affair with Caufield. That'll make some great quotes to dig up in the near future along with those :

I see another "Louis Leblanc" coming our way. ...

Caulfield had a good 1st game.........in the AHL. But that doesn't mean very much, and it doesn't make him any kind of lock for the NHL. He's 5'6". I have serious doubts that he ever sticks in the NHL, if he makes it at all.

Caufield has the potential to score 20-25 goals & 40-45 points a year. Congrats, Habs fans. You've got another one.

Try 10-15 goals and 30-35 points.

More like he simply has a little lucky run for a week or two, around once every year or so. ...

1. Raymond
2. Boldy
3. Jarvis
4. Lundell
5. Mercer
6. Sillinger
7. Byfield
8. Newhook
9. Caufield
10. Hayton

Also, Caufield will likely never score much. He's too small. Teeny guy like him will be injured a lot in his career.

Maybe he should've been a 3rd round pick.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Caufield, celebrating with teammates.

Interesting to note: His teammates couldn't actually see him down there, but they knew he was close by and did their best to encourage him. One eventually put a 4-step ladder over the boards so he could come off the ice.

 

[Legend123]

I love that you're true to yourself and doubling down on your obsessive hate affair with Caufield. That'll make some great quotes to dig up in the near future along with those :

Thank God people like him exist. That's the only reason why we were able to get such a talent at 15o. Bcuz ppl think size is all that matters when ur below 5 9.

 

[BenchBrawl]

The playa haters are out in full force I see. I am having none of it. Caufield is the real deal. Anyway watching the games knows that.

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

Absolutely unreal talent, I can’t wait until the fanbase runs him out of town so I can watch him more consistently.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Absolutely unreal talent, I can’t wait until the fanbase runs him out of town so I can watch him more consistently.

Montreal fans never chase away exciting (forward) superstars. It's management who did it in the case of Lafleur and Kovalev. The crowd still loves them to this day.

Goalies are a different beast.

 

[cedouimet]

Hfboards haters will say that he is a fringe top 6 sniper until he retire with 10+ 40goals season.

But if he was in their team, he would already be top 10 winger...

HFBoards hasnt change since i joined so i doubt it ever will

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

If only the season was played from. February 10th until November 7th with 2.5 months of nothing in the middle of it.

You really think this is some kind of fluke ? Have you been ignoring his entire career or just salty ?

 

[Lshap]

If only the season was played from. February 10th until November 7th with 2.5 months of nothing in the middle of it.

Stitching together adjoining numbers from two seasons is a bit gimmicky, I admit, but it does show something interesting: There are no 'flukes' among the top goal scorers on that list. Yes, it's an artificial 50-ish game sample from different time spans. Still, the best players in the league are there, with Caufield right up there with them.

Skepticism is understandable until he does it over a full season, but it's looking more and more like he's joining the club of NHL top snipers.

 

[Dave92]

I hate montreal but he looks legit from what i've seen. I think he could score 50 in the right situation.

 

[Voight]

Ignore the stats? Thats the argument for someone who is trying to make a point without actual evidence.

When Kucherov went from 66 to 85 points in one season, that was an example of "turning into a superstar" (scored 100 the year after, then his historic 128 the year after that)