Prospect Info: Cole Caufield (Part 5) - No Sophmore Slump, please Edition

[Sterling Archer]

He didn't score at the WJC, so people will overreact to the only hockey they've seen from him.

Maybe but that was 6 months ago. Seems odd that anyone would have an issue with him when he did so much since at Wisconsin and was the best player on that team when Turcotte was a 5th OA.

Some people need to give their heads a shake. They think unless a player is McJesus in day one and wins a cup as the messiah, that they’re a bust.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[ahmedou]

 

[WeThreeKings]

He possesses good edges and agility with his hands. So his skating ability just needs to get a little more explosive, the rest of it is good.

 

[HBDay]

He possesses good edges and agility with his hands. So his skating ability just needs to get a little more explosive, the rest of it is good.

Something tells me Caulfield will do everything he can on his end to make the nessecary adjustments needed to improve his game. So this will be a good tale of how much our organization does on their end.

Caufield will do his job will the organization do theirs.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Something tells me Caulfield will do everything he can on his end to make the nessecary adjustments needed to improve his game. So this will be a good tale of how much our organization does on their end.

Caufield will do his job will the organization do theirs.

Everything I've read about Caufiled and his training with his brother in the off season indicates his life is hockey and training. He reminds me a bit of Crosby and Gallagher in his commitment to getting better every year. I have no doubt he'll do all he can to improve this off season and every other moving forward. That's just what he does.

 

[HBDay]

Everything I've read about Caufiled and his training with his brother in the off season indicates his life is hockey and training. He reminds me a bit of Crosby and Gallagher in his commitment to getting better every year. I have no doubt he'll do all he can to improve this off season and every other moving forward. That's just what he does.

I hope he has that Gallagher in him. Nothing really replaces the chip on your shoulder something to prove attitude.

 

[Sterling Archer]

I hope he has that Gallagher in him. Nothing really replaces the chip on your shoulder something to prove attitude.

100%. Most small NHL players have it which is how they can make the league in the first place. Having a mentor like Gally can only reinforce it. He’s been called too small his entire life and there’s no better motivation to prove everyone wrong.

 

[Supersonic]

God **** what a shot.

That slap shot on the 2 on 1 against Minnesota was just filthy

 

[HBDay]

God **** what a shot.

That slap shot on the 2 on 1 against Minnesota was just filthy

Sometimes I forget. Then I watch these videos, and it's impossible not to get excited. It's that shot.

 

[Supersonic]

Sometimes I forget. Then I watch these videos, and it's impossible not to get excited. It's that shot.

As others have noted he already has an NHL caliber shot. It’ll be the rest of his game and whether or not he can elevate himself to play in the NHL that will matter.

But damn. That shot reminds me of Matthews or Eichel. Just flies off his stick. Would be cool if we made the playoffs next season and he gets signed and gets some time as a powerplay specialist

 

[montreal]

when you watch that vid, keep in mind he's doing that against some of the best goalies in the NCAA. Notre Dame, Ohio St, BC (1st round pick Knight, had a very Primeau like Freshman year).

 

[Gyfu]

I just love his shot soooo much, but i also find the way he opens lanes for his teammates to pass him the puck is also very smart, hard to describe what i want to say but i remember an interview with his usdp coach when he got drafted and he was right, about lanes, openings and the likes, goalies will know he's the guy that's likely taking the shot, it doesn't matter if you know he's gonna be the one taking the shot it doesn't really matter in his case he'll find a way to put it in (might've been granato on this one can't remember for sure) He doesn't JUST have an nhl caliber shot, what makes me "comfortable" in his case is he will create some room for passers to him, he'll take what's available if there is such a situation but he can open lanes with some underrated smarts and players knowing they have to respect his shot no matter where he is makeshim a hard player to contain... Also not a bad passer at all and some pretty silky hands imo)

 

[mariolemieux66]

I just love his shot soooo much, but i also find the way he opens lanes for his teammates to pass him the puck is also very smart, hard to describe what i want to say but i remember an interview with his usdp coach when he got drafted and he was right, about lanes, openings and the likes, goalies will know he's the guy that's likely taking the shot, it doesn't matter if you know he's gonna be the one taking the shot it doesn't really matter in his case he'll find a way to put it in (might've been granato on this one can't remember for sure) He doesn't JUST have an nhl caliber shot, what makes me "comfortable" in his case is he will create some room for passers to him, he'll take what's available if there is such a situation but he can open lanes with some underrated smarts and players knowing they have to respect his shot no matter where he is makeshim a hard player to contain... Also not a bad passer at all and some pretty silky hands imo)

Caufield will have a hard time in the NHL if he doesn't play with a legit offensive #1 center men, preferably someone with high hockey IQ and size. Caufield size and average speed will be huge obstacles if he is not surrounded with the proper cast that will create space for Caufield to take his shot. What would also be good for him to have is a weapon from the blue line. A offense defensemen cabaple of carrying the puck in the offensive zone opening shooting lanes and also being to fallow the offense to offer options in the attacking zone.
I just hope the team will let him be an offensive minded forward while working on his defensive side of the game. Right now I just dont see anyone in our prospects list that would be the absolute partners for Cole.

 

[Scriptor]

Caufield will have a hard time in the NHL if he doesn't play with a legit offensive #1 center men, preferably someone with high hockey IQ and size. Caufield size and average speed will be huge obstacles if he is not surrounded with the proper cast that will create space for Caufield to take his shot. What would also be good for him to have is a weapon from the blue line. A offense defensemen cabaple of carrying the puck in the offensive zone opening shooting lanes and also being to fallow the offense to offer options in the attacking zone.
I just hope the team will let him be an offensive minded forward while working on his defensive side of the game. Right now I just dont see anyone in our prospects list that would be the absolute partners for Cole.

Ideally, you'd have a LW that drives the net and has elite scoring ability like Hall to create tons of room for Caufield as an unfettered sniper but, that likely isn't happening.

I'd love a line of Hall - Kotkaniemi - Caufield.

I see the big Finn sending Hall off to the races with a well placed shovel pass, trailing the play for the return pass from Hall and choosing between two lethal scoring options in both Hall and Caufield to move the twine.

If, by some miracle, Montreal landed Hall, I'd move Danault rather than pay him 5M or more medium long term.

The C line could be, in no particular order:

Kotkaniemi
Suzuki
Domi
Poehling

Lines would soon look like:

Hall (9M) - Kotkaniemi (3.5M) - Caufield (3.5M)
Tatar (6.5M) - Suzuki (3.5M) - Gallagher (6M)
Drouin (5.5M) - Domi (6M) - Ylonen (1M)
Lehkonen (2.75M) - Evans (1M) - Armia (3.25M)

Chiarot (3.5M) - Weber (7.857M)
Romanov (2M) - Petry (5.5M)
Mete (2M) - Juulsen (1.5M)

Price (10.5M)
Lindgren (.750M)

Oh, to dream...

IMO, this team has two solid offensive lines, including an elite one and that ever popular shutdown line that can also score with suzuki in Danault's spot as a more potent offensive force that can still play a solid D-game.

However, in a flat Cap era brought on by the COVID-19, the Habs would already be at 85M with only a 20-man roster, no reliable backup for Price and no injury reserve buffer in place.

The real problem, at this stage, is Price's 10.5M Cap hit.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Will depend also on how clever he is at getting into open shooting positions. Galchenyuk could never figure that out, even on the PP lol

Caufield is actually very good at finding soft ice... That part of his game will be tested with more smarter coverage but as it stands today, it's a strength of his game

 

[Burke the Legend]

Caufield is actually very good at finding soft ice... That part of his game will be tested with more smarter coverage but as it stands today, it's a strength of his game

Definitely a positive indicator of a strength so far, but I don't like to get too excited until we see how well he does in the NHL against the best 500 players in the world. Back to the Galchenyuk example we've seen plenty of players who looked amazing tearing up junior/college against lesser competition but not coming close to same NHL impact because they just don't have that next level facility upstairs (very rare talent). That said even if he can't take his IQ to the next level as a 40+ goal scoring, high impact sniper making his own golden opportunities all over the ice, with his shooting skills he could still easily be a 25-30 goal scorer if he is coached well and fed the setups - still a useful player. Even dumb as bricks Galchenyuk managed that 30 goal mark.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Definitely a positive indicator of a strength so far, but I don't like to get too excited until we see how well he does in the NHL against the best 500 players in the world. Back to the Galchenyuk example we've seen plenty of players who looked amazing tearing up junior/college against lesser competition but not coming close to same NHL impact because they just don't have that next level facility upstairs (very rare talent). That said even if he can't take his IQ to the next level as a 40+ goal scoring, high impact sniper making his own golden opportunities all over the ice, with his shooting skills he could still easily be a 25-30 goal scorer if he is coached well and fed the setups - still a useful player. Even dumb as bricks Galchenyuk managed that 30 goal mark.

I value NCAA development over CHL to be honest. NO men in the CHL. And not many 16-18 year olds in the NCAA either.

Caufield to me is like a Skinner or Cammy type. Or DeBrincat.

 

[Supersonic]

Caufield will have a hard time in the NHL if he doesn't play with a legit offensive #1 center men, preferably someone with high hockey IQ and size. Caufield size and average speed will be huge obstacles if he is not surrounded with the proper cast that will create space for Caufield to take his shot. What would also be good for him to have is a weapon from the blue line. A offense defensemen cabaple of carrying the puck in the offensive zone opening shooting lanes and also being to fallow the offense to offer options in the attacking zone.
I just hope the team will let him be an offensive minded forward while working on his defensive side of the game. Right now I just dont see anyone in our prospects list that would be the absolute partners for Cole.

Agreed with this.

I don’t want to make this a trade proposal thread but a big body LW ala Mantha (uninjured) would be a perfect linemate for him. Caufield may be tiny but if we can get some size around him could be deadly, and agree with the offensive dman point as well.

I think if nothing else Caufield improves our powerplay immensely. And think of how many times our PP sputtered this year and killed our momentum in games...

 

[Burke the Legend]

Agreed with this.

I don’t want to make this a trade proposal thread but a big body LW ala Mantha (uninjured) would be a perfect linemate for him. Caufield may be tiny but if we can get some size around him could be deadly, and agree with the offensive dman point as well.

I think if nothing else Caufield improves our powerplay immensely. And think of how many times our PP sputtered this year and killed our momentum in games...

I don't think it necessarily needs to be a big player (although Mantha sure is welcome in the CH), but just any players who are also threat so they can't cheat and cover him tight, giving him more open space to work with.

 

[montreal]

Caufield will have a hard time in the NHL if he doesn't play with a legit offensive #1 center men, preferably someone with high hockey IQ and size. Caufield size and average speed will be huge obstacles if he is not surrounded with the proper cast that will create space for Caufield to take his shot. What would also be good for him to have is a weapon from the blue line. A offense defensemen cabaple of carrying the puck in the offensive zone opening shooting lanes and also being to fallow the offense to offer options in the attacking zone.
I just hope the team will let him be an offensive minded forward while working on his defensive side of the game. Right now I just dont see anyone in our prospects list that would be the absolute partners for Cole.

his shot is so sick and he knows how to get open, I'm not worried about him in the NHL after watching in the NCAA this year as he barely had the same linemates yet was most often Wisconsin's best player or at least biggest threat to score.

But I think Kotka or Suzuki would be more then fine as his center.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Good news on Caufield and Struble. Both invited to US summer showcase. Is Harris too old or just not get invited? I’d imagine it’s his age.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Good news on Caufield and Struble. Both invited to US summer showcase. Is Harris too old or just not get invited? I’d imagine it’s his age.

It's an evaluation camp to assist in selecting the WJC team and Harris is over the age limit to be on it, he turns 20 in July and you need to be under 20 when the WJC starts. Caufield just barely makes the limit ( he's a January birthday) .

 

[Habs Halifax]

He possesses good edges and agility with his hands. So his skating ability just needs to get a little more explosive, the rest of it is good.

Agreed... you add explosive skating to his resume and he is able to create more time and space where he is very dangerous. His shot accuracy and quick release is impressive. Hockey IQ and vision is pretty good too.

Poehling / Suzuki / Caufield I would love to see what these 3 can do in the future

 

[Habs Halifax]

Good news on Caufield and Struble. Both invited to US summer showcase. Is Harris too old or just not get invited? I’d imagine it’s his age.

Struble is one to watch. I can see his stock rising fast in his 2nd NCAA year and if he makes the US WJC team.