Cole Caufield: Is this the year?

[Toene]

He needs to show more. I know it's pre-season, but he gotta score more consistently, or I'll be forced to call him Cold Caufield. It's been a few seasons now where he starts the year super slow. With Laine out, he's got the best shot on the team. He has to use it ffs.

 

[lillypad33]

Why haven't they set him up on the left one time during the preseason during the PP?

 

[Team_Spirit]

Why haven't they set him up on the left one time during the preseason during the PP?

Calm down Lilly

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He needs to show more. I know it's pre-season, but he gotta score more consistently, or I'll be forced to call him Cold Caufield. It's been a few seasons now where he starts the year super slow. With Laine out, he's got the best shot on the team. He has to use it ffs.

?

7 goals in his first 9 games in 22-23. Two in his first game that year.

 

[Hins77]

He seems to have changed his style of game. He wants to play like Suzuki, passing first and use his body to cover the puck (wich he loose many puck battle. He needs to do what is the best. Shooting first mentality.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

He seems to have changed his style of game. He wants to play like Suzuki, passing first and use his body to cover the puck (wich he loose many puck battle. He needs to do what is the best. Shooting first mentality.

I'm not quite happy how his play evolved. He plays a more 200 feet game while not scoring that much. I think his best production of goals were 2 years ago. But his 200 feet game isn't that positive. He loses battles and don't cover well his player in defensive mode. He's always on the verge of exploding offensively but it doesn't happen enough. He's very small in a world of heavy guys. He was drafted 15th too. So far he only have minus +-stats.

 

[Habby4Life]

You asked me about potential - not certainty.

The potential is there without a doubt. The guy set records coming into the league and immediately dominated once he had a decent coach. scoring that much so quickly is awesome. Very few players can do that. Injury is all that limited him from a career year last year. With a normal shooting percentage he'd have been somewhere between 45-53 goals.

It comes down to health. We simply don't know what that shoulder is going to do to him. It SHOULD be better this year but we don't know that it will.

The potential for a superstar is there without a doubt. But health will determine whether or not he can realize that potential.

Sorry to break it to you, but even healthy CC isn't superstar potential.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Sorry to break it to you, but even healthy CC isn't superstar potential.

Okay, back it up.

What is a superstar to you?

Name another player under 25 who has as many goals per game.

Explain how a guy who broke records in the minors and started his career with 48 in 82 doesn't have superstar potential. Explain how 315 shots and a sub 10 percent shooting percentage on a bum shoulder doesn't indicate that the player has a lot more upside.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Last season they said CC's shoulder was 100 percent too.

The fact is that he's coming off shoulder surgery. Even if you play 82 games, it doesn't mean you're 100 percent.

Before last season - Sept 2023 - he said it was 100%.
Did anyone from the team, including CC, say anything to the contrary following that or are you just speculating?

Andy had the same surgery - same Dr - said he came back stronger than before. Repaired shoulder better than the other one.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Before last season - Sept 2023 - he said it was 100%.
Did anyone from the team, including CC, say anything to the contrary following that or are you just speculating?

His shooting percentage was cut in half for most of the year. What do you think happened?

Andy had the same surgery - same Dr - said he came back stronger than before. Repaired shoulder better than the other one.

Right. But it takes time. And that's if everything goes well. It's an obvious risk and it contributed to the fact that we got paid to take him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He seems to have changed his style of game. He wants to play like Suzuki, passing first and use his body to cover the puck (wich he loose many puck battle. He needs to do what is the best. Shooting first mentality.

He shot more than ever last year. 315 is great.

Training camp is the time for trying out funky stuff. I wouldn't worry too much about this right now.

Still has the potential to be a premiere scorer. Hopefully he realizes it.

 

[overlords]

He shot more than ever last year. 315 is great.

Training camp is the time for trying out funky stuff. I wouldn't worry too much about this right now.

Still has the potential to be a premiere scorer. Hopefully he realizes it.

If I have any concerns about Caufield, it's that we still haven't seen proof that his release is back. The rest doesn't really matter right now, as you say.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If I have any concerns about Caufield, it's that we still haven't seen proof that his release is back. The rest doesn't really matter right now, as you say.

I share your concern.

It absolutely sucks that we landed a great sniper and he got hurt in his second season. It could only happen to us.

 

[Habby4Life]

Okay, back it up.

What is a superstar to you?

Name another player under 25 who has as many goals per game.

Explain how a guy who broke records in the minors and started his career with 48 in 82 doesn't have superstar potential. Explain how 315 shots and a sub 10 percent shooting percentage on a bum shoulder doesn't indicate that the player has a lot more upside.

Goals per game, Svech, Brady, are all close. They are not superstar potential yet they are way better players than CC

Bum shoulder, he said it was 100%, stop making excuses. He played a full year on a good shoulder and got 28. His shooting % is because he was a perimeter player last year.

I told you, McK, Dria, Matthews, McD, Panarin, Pasta, Kuch just to name a few. If you think he has the potential to be in that crowd, I seriously question your hockey knowledge.

A lot more upside is a heck of a lot different than he has superstar potential. He doesn't.

If you want to go the goal per game route, CC is 39.5% and Laine is 42.5% and one of these guys has hit 40+ once, and 30+ twice. If you want to talk superstar, maybe we should include PL.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Goals per game, Svech, Brady, are all close

So nobody then?

Okay.

They are not superstar potential yet they are way better players than CC

The only reason they are close is because of CC's shoulder.

Bum shoulder, he said it was 100%, stop making excuses. He played a full year on a good shoulder and got 28. His shooting % is because he was a perimeter player last year.

Yeah, he said it was 100 percent. And then his shooting percentage got cut in half for most of the year.

I told you, McK, Dria, Matthews, McD, Panarin, Pasta, Kuch just to name a few. If you think he has the potential to be in that crowd, I seriously question your hockey knowledge.

Superstars for one person will differ for another. If it's McDavid or Matthews then sure... he won't be a superstar.

But I'd argue that a guy who can consistently get 45-50+ goals counts as a superstar. If you don't then we're talking at cross purposes here. And that's cool because superstar is an undefined term.

A lot more upside is a heck of a lot different than he has superstar potential. He doesn't.

If you want to go the goal per game route, CC is 39.5% and Laine is 42.5% and one of these guys has hit 40+ once, and 30+ twice. If you want to talk superstar, maybe we should include PL.

PL had superstar talent without a doubt.

 

[Ozmodiar]

His shooting percentage was cut in half for most of the year. What do you think happened?

Right. But it takes time. And that's if everything goes well. It's an obvious risk and it contributed to the fact that we got paid to take him.

So you were speculating.

Since you’re asking me to do the same, I’d say it wasn’t the shoulder itself since sport specific exercise and RTS should have been done in the 3-6 month window. 9, 10 months should def be fine. 100%

There can be plenty of other reasons that aren’t physical … timing, shooting location, hurrying shots / confidence, a little more attention from D, NS on 1/2 wall on PP, other tactical changes whether that be PP or having Slaf emerge as another option for NS …

Last season his top shot speed was high than the 2 previous seasons. He could still rip it.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

So you were speculating.

8.9 percent. That’s insane.

I’m providing you with a common sense answer based on objective results. CC’s shooting percentage was so far out as an outlier that there is no other reasonable conclusion.

Coincidence that it happened right after shoulder surgery? Not a chance.

Since you’re asking me to do the same, I’d say it wasn’t the shoulder itself since sport specific exercise and RTS should have been done in the 3-6 month window. 9, 10 months should def be fine. 100%

There can be plenty of other reasons that aren’t physical … timing, shooting location, hurrying shots / confidence, a little more attention from D, NS on 1/2 wall on PP, other tactical changes whether that be PP or having Slaf emerge as another option for NS …

I’m sorry but no. Players can have off years. This was something else. An off year would’ve been a 35-40 goal year based on that many shots. This was an abomination and was only saved by a late season surge - which hopefully bodes well for next year.

Last season his top shot speed was high than the 2 previous seasons. He could still rip it.

But how quickly could he get his shot off?

You don’t go from 15 percent to 8 without something being wrong. At one point it looked like he might not hit 20 goals. This is after getting 48 in 82? Come on man. 12 percent would’ve been disappointing. The guy didn’t even hit 10.

 

[Ozmodiar]

I’m providing a common sense answer based on objective results. CC’s shooting percentage was so far out as an outlier that there is no other reasonable conclusion.

Coincidence that it happened right after shoulder surgery? Not a chance.

I’m sorry but no. Players can have off years. This was something else. An off year would’ve been a 35-40 goal year based on that many shots. This was an abomination and was only saved by a late season surge - which hopefully bodes well for next year.

But how quickly could he get his shot off?

You don’t go from 15 percent to 8 without something being wrong. At one point it looked like he might not hit 20 goals. This is after getting 48 in 82? Come on man. 12 percent would’ve been disappointing. The guy didn’t even hit 10.

Still all speculation.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Still all speculation.

Come on.

His shooting percentage at the end of March was .... 7.3. Hideous.

That's not luck, it's not the way he played... his shots were in close, he put up 315, did everything he was supposed to do but score. It came right after shoulder surgery.

Gee, I wonder if it's related?

He scored 8 in his next 9, boosting it to 8.9 by the end of the year. Hopefully a sign that he's going to be better going forward. Let us pray.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Ping me when he sniffs 40 goals once, just once.

His goal total was down because where he was taking the shots from. He has to take more shots around the net. Shots from far out are easy for goalies to save, shit shoot 1000 of them they will save most of them.

His shoulder is nothing more than an excuse. They guy said it was 100%, I’ll take his word.

Just have to read the old GDT’s to know about the shot quality.lol Location, forcing things - signs pointing to a lack of confidence … a fine line between scoring and not in the NHL.

 

[Habby4Life]

Just have to read the old GDT’s to know about the shot quality.lol Location, forcing things - signs pointing to a lack of confidence … a fine line between scoring and not in the NHL.

Basu has an article from April 11 2024 in the Athletic where CC admits he has to get to the “paint more”, he admits it himself he needs to shot from better scoring positions.

The shoulder is all BS.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Basu has an article from April 11 2024 in the Athletic where CC admits he has to get to the “paint more”, he admits it himself he needs to shot from better scoring positions.

The shoulder is all BS.

This has already been debunked.

Earlier in this thread there is a page showing that his shots were further in close than the year before.

A guy who's always been a sniper his whole life suddenly shoots at 7 percent? And it's right after surgery. Not coincidence.

 

[Habby4Life]

This has already been debunked.

Earlier in this thread there is a page showing that his shots were further in close than the year before. So no, it's not BS.

A guy who's always been a sniper his whole life suddenly shoots at 7 percent? And it's right after surgery. Not coincidence.

It’s been debunked that CC says he needs to get into and shoot from better scoring opportunites.

The GUY himself said it. Straight from Coles mouth. So you know better than him, my lord.

“I like to score from anywhere, I’ve just got to start consistently scoring in the paint a little bit more, around the net. As much as I can get there on the inside, good things will happen.”

He is literally saying he needs to get closer to the net where better scoring opportunities happen. Yes, not be a perimeter player and the shooting percentage will increase.

 

[Ozmodiar]

A guy who's always been a sniper his whole life suddenly shoots at 7 percent? And it's right after surgery. Not coincidence.

7%? lol

21-22: 12.3%
22-23: 16.5%
23-24: 9%

which season is the biggest outlier?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It’s been debunked that CC says he needs to get into and shoot from better scoring opportunites.

The GUY himself said it. Straight from Coles mouth. So you know better than him, my lord.

it doesn’t matter what he said. Carey Orice said it was his fault every time we lost.

The numbers do not support your argument. If they did I’d agree but they don’t.

He had a great year. Shots in close were right in line with before. His shooting percentage from mid ice was abysmal. That should be his bread and butter - it was abysmally bad. Guess why? His shot sucked.