F Cole Caufield (2019, 15th, MTL) Part 4

[nucksflailtogether]

Imagine this kid on McDavid's wing. Holland taking Bustberg instead will go down as an all time blunder.

I'm happy with podz but I cannot believe the Oilers passed on zebras and Caufield with their lack of depth up front. Broberg should be good though.

 

[buddahsmoka1]

Am I the only one whos thinks he's actually been quite good defensively as well? Kid is a straight up stud.

I don't get the criticism either. He's made a few positional errors, lost a couple board plays on the half wall, but nothing major. He has looked no worse defensively than any other Montreal forward.

Seems to me people are looking for (read: manufacturing) things to negatively say about him.

 

[Jared Dunn]

Z

He didn't play too many games this year? If not yeah he'll be in the mix, Lundell too

 

[koyvoo]

Very impressed with the young man. Not afraid to go to dirty areas, he just oozes offensive genius. He knows where to go, and sees his teammates very well.

 

[Halakitlikethat]

He has IT

 

[HuGo Sham]

he has more grit than what's been described. He's not afraid of the physical battles ( doesn't win many) but he's incredibly well-positioned. His hockey IQ is off the charts and the Habs haven't had a pure shooter in a while. He just goes for the killshot on every offensive opportunity; he doesn't waver, he doesn't hesitate - wether it's pass or shoot, most of the time - it just feels like a life or death situation on his stick. No other way to describe it

 

[mphmiles]

I don't get the criticism either. He's made a few positional errors, lost a couple board plays on the half wall, but nothing major. He has looked no worse defensively than any other Montreal forward.

Seems to me people are looking for (read: manufacturing) things to negatively say about him.

The only forward on the habs with a better xgf% during the playoffs is Brendan Gallagher, who is legitimately a top 5 defensive forward in the league. As a not-even rookie. With about 20 games experience.

it’s the ultimate low-hanging fruit. He’s short and skilled so he must be bad defensively.

 

[Baaaaaaaaaaaaah]

his defense is pretty decent. For example, this game, he made a nice defensive play in OT in a defensive zone faceoff.

Yeah. I was wasn’t criticizing his D. I was criticizing those calling it out…I guess poorly. He learned to play a 200 foot game Wisconsin. He will of course have puck battle issues due to his size, but he does not have positional or effort issues in his own zone.

 

[Sens With Benefits]

He gives me the Curtis Lazar bubbly energy vibes. You can tell he loves everything Hockey and loving the fact he plays for Montreal.

 

[Kojo]

40 goals potential if they find a pmd.

 

[Saxon]

Coach kept him out for MOST of the overtime. How come?

He hasn't proven himself in OT at the NHL level yet.............

 

[Captain97]

He gives me the Curtis Lazar bubbly energy vibes. You can tell he loves everything Hockey and loving the fact he plays for Montreal.

It certainly helps he's playing with one of his favourite players in Gallagher. Apparently he looked up to Gally as an example of a small guy who made it, definitely would be a great experience.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

He was a top 5 talent in that class. All other GMs were 5’2 girls on the dance floor telling him they only date 6 footers.

Don't think Caufield would've made it to Montreal if Chicago didn't move up to 3 that year...Chicago appeared to have Dach, Turcotte, Caufield and Zegras all in the same tier for potential picks at 3...Everybody would've been off the board but Caufield at 12 or wherever they were slotted to pick that year before lottery...Caufield is a special player though and going to be a big time player for the Habs for a long time, hell of a pick by org...can't believe he even slipped to 15 with the numbers he put up leading up to the draft...

 

[Captain97]

Don't think Caufield would've made it to Montreal if Chicago didn't move up to 3 that year...Chicago appeared to have Dach, Turcotte, Caufield and Zegras all in the same tier for potential picks at 3...Everybody would've been off the board but Caufield at 12 or wherever they were slotted to pick that year before lottery...Caufield is a special player though and going to be a big time player for the Habs for a long time, hell of a pick by org...can't believe he even slipped to 15 with the numbers he put up leading up to the draft...

So what you're saying is the Habs were the 4th "lottery winner that year" thank you Chicago.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

So what you're saying is the Habs were the 4th "lottery winner that year" thank you Chicago.

i just think its an intersting scenario as a hawks fan to follow because caufield likely would've been their pick at 12 and he looks like a top 5 pick at this point...feels like a sure bet to eventually be a consistent 40 goal scorer

 

[Captain97]

i just think its an intersting scenario as a hawks fan to follow because caufield likely would've been their pick at 12 and he looks like a top 5 pick at this point...

I wouldn't be surprised if Chicago and Montreal had similar draft lists a lot of years tbh. Atleast with the NA skaters.

Bergevin was heavily involved in Chicago's drafting when he was there so I'm sure some of his strategies were developed under their culture.

 

[Baaaaaaaaaaaaah]

Everyone knew Caufield was top 1-5 talent, but scouts and GM's like to keep their jobs. Drafting a 5'7 kid that doesnt work out has much harsher consequences than drafting safe but mediocre guys. I mean if you were drafting on pure upside without regard to floors, Caufield and Zegras would have been the first two players off the board, and that's without even doing a look-back knowing what we know now.

Moons did align for Montreal though. Perennial poor drafters Edmonton, Arizona, Buffalo doing what they normally do. Yzerman smartly going off the board, Krebs injury, Caufield size, Podz Russian contract factor, Knight pushing the top 15 (deservedly), the enigma of Kaliyev, etc. Some really terrible picks in late 1st imo as well, with many gems falling way too far. Whole thing was a circus.

Yet I think 2019 draft ends up as one of the best ever.

 

[molotce]

Everyone knew Caufield was top 1-5 talent, but scouts and GM's like to keep their jobs. Drafting a 5'7 kid that doesnt work out has much harsher consequences than drafting safe but mediocre guys. I mean if you were drafting on pure upside without regard to floors, Caufield and Zegras would have been the first two players off the board, and that's without even doing a look-back knowing what we know now.

Moons did align for Montreal though. Perennial poor drafters Edmonton, Arizona, Buffalo doing what they normally do. Yzerman smartly going off the board, Krebs injury, Caufield size, Podz Russian contract factor, Knight pushing the top 15 (deservedly), the enigma of Kaliyev, etc. Some really terrible picks in late 1st imo as well, with many gems falling way too far. Whole thing was a circus.

Yet I think 2019 draft ends up as one of the best ever.

I think its something we hear more and more about the 2019 class! The top is developping but there’s a lot of great picks all through the first round. In my keeper i drafted boldy 10th, york 15(caufield gone top10) and tomasino 19. They all look to be somewhat good to great

 

[Herby]

Everyone knew Caufield was top 1-5 talent, but scouts and GM's like to keep their jobs. Drafting a 5'7 kid that doesnt work out has much harsher consequences than drafting safe but mediocre guys. I mean if you were drafting on pure upside without regard to floors, Caufield and Zegras would have been the first two players off the board, and that's without even doing a look-back knowing what we know now.

Moons did align for Montreal though. Perennial poor drafters Edmonton, Arizona, Buffalo doing what they normally do. Yzerman smartly going off the board, Krebs injury, Caufield size, Podz Russian contract factor, Knight pushing the top 15 (deservedly), the enigma of Kaliyev, etc. Some really terrible picks in late 1st imo as well, with many gems falling way too far. Whole thing was a circus.

Yet I think 2019 draft ends up as one of the best ever.

I don't know about best ever. Lets see how good Seider looks, but 2 years out no one has shown through as a potential franchise player on the level of some of the previous drafts of the decade. There is a lot of depth though.

Spot on about the end of the 1st though, for example, having seen Beecher a ton, him over Pinto and Kaliyev is going to be cringe worthy for the Bruins in a couple of years. And going off statistics it sure looks like the Ducks made a poor pick with Tracey letting Kaliyev fall to their rivals. I can't believe Kaliyev fell to the Kings. Imagine if the Ducks had ended up with Zegras and Kaliyev.

 

[montreal]

this Caufield kid is good at hockey, who knew?

 

[danyhabsfan]

this Caufield kid is good at hockey, who knew?

I remember people comparing Caufield and Poehling...

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Caufield is a natural. Always creating chances.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

One, if not best game of his career so far. He was very solid in his own end, aggressive, used his stick well, got stuck to Knights players.
Great in the offensive zone.

 

[lawrence]

his 5'7 height scared some teams away, rightfully so, as we an see, there are not many 5'7 NHLers in the NHL today let a lone the history. There are some fears that he might easily get zoned out, being a smaller player, but so far it's good for habs and good for them.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Cole Caufield this season, so far, in all competitions, as 19 & 20 year old.

Games : 63
Goals : 42
Assists : 32
Points : 74
PPG : 1.17
SOG : 217
+/ : +9
PIM : 8