Prospect Info: Cole Caufield (Part 4)
- Thread starter Lshap
- Start date
- Status
I saw people in the last thread post about him being convinced to sign and play at the end of this season or next season in the NHL. God I hope not, time to stop rushing prospects into the NHL...let them develop properly.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
It's deeper than just that. If he wants to sign the ELC at the end of this year and we say no, we run the risk of upsetting him and he decides to screw us over and become a UFA like Fox just did.
I agree with your approach but careful management needs to be done with NCAA talent.
sheed36
Registered User
Of course that can happen but I don't see that being an issue with Caufield. Even if the Habs do say no to signing him at the end of this season I just can't see a talent like Caufield wasting these additional years waiting to become a UFA just because he's upset. He knows he's a very talented player and he'll likely want to maximize his NHL earning potential and wasting another 3 or so years before signing likely won't even be a consideration for him.
And if that happens that is not a good sign as it would show him having an ego and a me first attitude.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
I don't think it's a selfish attitude, more along the lines of confidence! He's not known as a selfish type of player and he has good character from what I can see. He's got the it factor and wants to play. Suzuki has that as well.
I'd sign the ELC if he ask. Then we give him a shot in practice and see how he does. If he looks good, he gets a game in a sheltered role. If he still looks good, you give him more opportunity. If he needs more development time, he plays AHL. It's not a terrible situation.
I'm not buying the Habs can't draft and develop narrative. I know some believe that and that is their prerogative. I think they could be better but I don't believe we are rushing them with a mindset of they don't care about their development.
Last edited:
Le Tricolore
Boo! BOOOO!
Personally, I wouldn't.
Worst case he plays in the AHL if he's not ready to play in the NHL next year. I don't think anyone is too upset that Poehling is playing in Laval rather than playing another year at St. Cloud.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
montreal
Go Habs Go
he's going to sign 100%. As for rushing him why stop now since the Habs under MB have rushed every top prospect to the NHL at some point.
sheed36
Registered User
Depends. If Caufield tells MB if you don't sign me at the end of this season, so I can burn 1 year off my ELC, I won't sign and will go to UFA in 3 or whatever years then of course I'd sign him at the end of the season. If though there's no impression that he won't sign in the summer then I'd rather wait and get the full ELC years with him.
I just can't see someone with Caufield's talent wasting 3 or whatever years of NHL earning potential to become a UFA but others may feel different and that's fine.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
It's not like the Poehling situation. Poehling was 20 when he signed and Caufield would be 19. In order for Caufield to burn his ELC, he has to play 10 NHL games cause he will be 19 in his signing year (not 20 like Poehling). Probability is he has to play in the playoffs for the Habs if he plays 10 NHL games.
- NCAA playoffs start Mar 6th
- NCAA Regional's start March 27th
- Frozen 4 is Apr 9th - 11th
- Habs play last 4 NHL regular season games on Mar 28th, Mar 31st, Apr 1st, Apr 4th.
Hard to say how far the Badgers go. We can't make any decisions right now so lets wait till March to talk about this more in depth. But if he is burning his ELC, he has to play 10 NHL games. We should not say no if he ask us for a contract. You don't treat your best prospect that way
montreal
Go Habs Go
as for right now Wisconsin is on the bubble to even make the NCAA tournament so they will need to pick it up. They had had a really tough schedule so we'll see as it should get a little easier. If they are on the outside looking in then the only way they could get into the tournament would be if they won the Big Ten Championship.
So for those that don't follow the NCAA, each conference has their playoffs and the winner of that conference gets an auto bid to the NCAA tournament no matter where they are ranked. 16 teams make the tournament, so if you are ranked 15th but 2 teams ranked below you win their conference then you get bounced and won't make the tournament. So you don't want to be on the bubble as then it comes down to strength of schedule and it gets much more complicated (if you are on the bubble but didn't get knocked out by a team getting an auto bid)
So for those that don't follow the NCAA, each conference has their playoffs and the winner of that conference gets an auto bid to the NCAA tournament no matter where they are ranked. 16 teams make the tournament, so if you are ranked 15th but 2 teams ranked below you win their conference then you get bounced and won't make the tournament. So you don't want to be on the bubble as then it comes down to strength of schedule and it gets much more complicated (if you are on the bubble but didn't get knocked out by a team getting an auto bid)
sheed36
Registered User
I wasn't aware of the different NCAA age rules so if that's the case with Caufield then it would make sense to sign him at the end of the season if he wants to sign. I just learned something new today so thanks for that.
I'm sure it'll work out for both the Habs and Caufield when the time comes to make a decision so I'm not worried.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
I wasn't aware of the different NCAA age rules so if that's the case with Caufield then it would make sense to sign him at the end of the season if he wants to sign. I just learned something new today so thanks for that.
I'm sure it'll work out for both the Habs and Caufield when the time comes to make a decision so I'm not worried.
It's all good. Nobody should jump on your back for wanting our prospects to develop more and come into the NHL more mature. The issue is the NCAA top talent dictate their path or you lose them (potentially).
We can re-visit this conversation and what is best in March. We get to see what Caufield does all season and how far he goes with the Badgers. I think they are ranked 16th right now
FrankMTL
Registered User
- Jan 6, 2005
- 12,207
- 13,140
Wisconsin is playing the University of Minnesota next. This looks like a younger and weaker team than Notre Dame and Penn State...on paper anyways. He also faced Cale Morris and Peyton Jones the last two weekends. Those are two of the better goalies in the Big 10 conference. Hopefully he can pot a few this weekend.
This is true some of been able to somewhat succeed while others not so much...ugh.
So what? I want a goal scorer with an ego that thinks he's good enough to play in the NHL right away and doesn't want to be jerked around and waste more time in college.
Roadhouse
Bring me back to 2006...
Can't be surprised about his intentions though... this is the guy who smashed pre-draft interviews with his confidence, and had this attitude towards school / 1st season in Wisconsin (4:23):
Didn't pick a major before he got there. School is "part of it". We'll just see what happens after the first year there. All relevant quotes.
cphabs
The 2 stooges….
- Dec 21, 2012
- 7,700
- 5,167
Waste time in college? Somebody better let this kid know how our “development” program handles offensive players... that need work on defense.
Ha fair enough, although I guess I'd rather get a big signing bonus and start the UFA clock in that case.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
It's negotiation leverage for top NCAA talent and they all do it. I don't like how the NCAA players can do this but it's the rules and they are allowed. I don't think it's selfish, it's what anybody would do in his shoes.
He doesn't go back in the draft, he becomes a UFA talent. Not sure how many seasons he has to have though. Think he would have to play another year in the NCAA at least.
I no problems with his character and talent. The problem is the NHL/CBA contract with the NCAA.
Frozenice
No Reverse Gear
- Jan 1, 2010
- 7,020
- 520
Lol. He was drafted 15th OA. He was the biggest faller in the draft. That’s the definition of ‘failing’.
That’s like killing it in a job interview, not getting the job and meeting the guy who got the job and thinking ‘they preferred him to me’? Maybe,I have things to work on.
- Status
