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No one loves scoring objectives greater than the Canadiens’
Cole Caufield.
Caufield’s smile lights up the Bell Centre each time he scores and he did it once more Wednesday evening
when he scored the successful aim in a 4-3 preseason victory over the Ottawa Senators.
“It’s been some time since I scored in a recreation, so it felt fairly good,” Caufield mentioned after the sport.
For Caufield, it was his first recreation since Jan. 19 when he was shut down for the season
due to a shoulder harm that required surgical procedure
. Caufield scored 26 objectives within the 46 video games he performed final season, placing him on tempo for 46 objectives. The Canadiens haven’t had a 40-goal scorer since
Vincent Damphousse
scored 40 in the course of the 1993-94 season.
To focus on how way back that was, Caufield was born in 2001.
Since Martin St. Louis took over as head coach, Caufield has scored 48 objectives in 83 video games. If the 5-foot-8, 175-pound winger can keep wholesome this season, 40 objectives is an actual risk.
The Canadiens haven’t had a 50-goal scorer since
Stéphane Richer
scored 51 in the course of the 1989-90 season.
To focus on how way back that was, veteran Canadiens goalie
Jake Allen
was born in 1990.
Allen faces loads of Caufield photographs over the course of a season throughout practices.
“Lots of guys can shoot it in follow,” Allen mentioned when requested about Caufield’s shot. “You ask any goalie within the league and also you’ll get loads of stunning solutions who can shoot it in follow and who can’t. It’s completely totally different once you get right into a recreation state of affairs. Simply to see him in follow, so much about me is his confidence with the puck on his stick. That’s an enormous deal. He has confidence the place he can rating. Different guys can shoot possibly higher or tougher, however don’t have that confidence and that swagger of their shot. He is aware of he can rating. I feel that’s an enormous distinction.”
Veteran ahead
Sean Monahan
performed with Caufield and Nick Suzuki on the Canadiens’ No. 1 line for Wednesday’s preseason recreation in opposition to the Senators and in addition scored a aim. Final season, Monahan performed solely 25 video games earlier than a damaged foot and groin harm put an finish to his season, however he acquired an opportunity to observe Caufield play so much from the press field.
“I assumed he began to get slightly extra aggressive because the season went on,” Monahan mentioned. “Whenever you do this, you discover that confidence and swagger to your recreation. Because the season went on, I feel he carried that and that bumped up and he began to place the puck within the internet nearly each evening. I feel this 12 months goes to be an enormous 12 months for him. He’s coming off an harm, he desires to show himself and have an excellent season.”
Caufield scored seven objectives within the final 10 video games he performed final season. He mentioned his shoulder is again to 100 per cent and he desires to take extra of a management position this season.
“I feel all people can lead in their very own approach,” he mentioned. “I feel we’ve acquired loads of younger guys which are sort of discovering themselves early on of their careers with loads of duty. I feel I’m a type of guys. I feel my voice can sort of attain out to these youthful guys slightly bit extra and I can lead in my very own approach with examples.”
Caufield is heading into the primary season of
an eight-year, US$62.8-million contract
he signed in June. The contract features a US$5 million signing bonus in every of the primary two seasons and has an annual salary-cap hit of US$7.85 million.
“I feel my mother’s extra excited than I’m,” Caufield mentioned about his contract. “It’s fairly cool. Clearly, you don’t wish to deal with that an excessive amount of however, for certain, it’s fairly life-changing.”
One other bonus for Caufield along with his new contract is he may afford tickets to a Taylor Swift live performance, which he mentioned was considered one of his highlights of his summer season.
Each child who performs hockey — at each stage — desires to attain objectives, however not all of them can. Caufield has at all times been a goal-scorer. In 2015-16, he scored 23 objectives in 37 video games with the Workforce Wisconsin U-14 workforce and he additionally had 25 objectives in 23 video games along with his Stevens Level Space Excessive Faculty workforce.
I requested Caufield after Wednesday’s recreation what’s the very best recommendation he may give younger gamers in terms of scoring objectives.
“Simply have enjoyable taking pictures the puck,” he mentioned. “You’re not going to attain each time. I feel children get fairly down on themselves after they don’t rating. It’s powerful to do this. Goalies are good. However rising up each aim needs to be celebrated, whether or not it’s follow or a recreation or no matter. Nothing excites me greater than a aim.
“You’re not going to attain on each shot,” he added. “So I’m simply going to maintain taking pictures and a few of them will go in.”
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