3 Reasons Canadiens Cole Caufield Is More Than Just a Shooter
For a long time, Cole Caufield was treated like a novelty act. Small guy. Big shot. Power-play specialist. Dangerous, sure — but maybe limited. That framing doesn’t hold anymore, and it hasn’t for a while. The numbers help make the case, but they’re not the reason he’s become such a reliable offensive driver for Montreal.
Caufield isn’t just scoring goals. He’s shaping games. And he’s doing it in ways that don’t always show up on highlight reels.
Three Reasons Caufield Is the Real Deal for the Canadiens
There are at least three reasons why Caufield has become the real deal for the Canadiens.
Reason 1. Caufield Keeps the Puck — and That Changes Everything
The simplest explanation is often the right one: when Cole Caufield is on the ice, his team has the puck more. That matters because possession is oxygen in today’s NHL, and Caufield quietly provides it.
His puck control isn’t flashy for the sake of it. He doesn’t overhandle or skate himself into trouble. He absorbs pressure, slips checks, and moves pucks with purpose. That ability to hold possession buys time for linemates, allows defencemen to join the play, and turns broken sequences into sustained pressure.
It’s not an accident that Montreal looks calmer offensively when Caufield is involved. He slows the game down just enough to tilt it back in his team’s favour.
Reason 2. Caufield Earns His Offence the Hard Way
Caufield’s offensive numbers — 20 goals, 40 points through 42 games — are impressive on their own. What makes them stick is how they’re earned.
When he loses the puck, he retrieves it. There’s no sulking, no floating, no waiting for the next chance. He tracks back, engages, and competes harder than his size would suggest. That work rate extends possessions and creates second and third-chance opportunities. That kind of work is often what decides games.
This is how you end up tying a game late in the second period after your team has blown a lead, not with luck, but with persistence.
Reason 3. Caufield’s Effort Lifts the Entire Canadiens Team
Caufield’s most significant contribution might be cultural. He plays like every shift matters, and teammates notice. When a skilled player works as hard as he does, it resets expectations across the bench.
You see it in how lines stay connected and how Montreal pushes back after setbacks. Caufield’s game tells everyone else that skill doesn’t excuse effort — it demands it. That’s why he’s tracking toward another career year. Not because he’s shooting more, but because he’s doing everything else better.
Cole Caufield isn’t just a scorer anymore. He’s a driver. And Montreal is better for it.