Cole Caufield Just Became a Montreal Canadiens Legend. Here's Why That Matters.
Cole Caufield did something Wednesday night that hasn't happened in Montreal for 35 years. The 25-year-old Wisconsin native scored his 50th goal of the season against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Canadiens' 2-1 win, becoming the first player in franchise history to hit that mark since Stephane Richer did it back in 1990. Let that sink in. Three and a half decades. That's how long Habs fans have been waiting for someone to do what Caufield just pulled off.
A Name Joining Elite Company
Caufield is now the seventh player in franchise history to reach 50 goals in a season. The list reads like a who's who of Montreal hockey royalty: Guy LaFleur (who did it six times), Stephane Richer (twice), and then Maurice Richard, Steve Shutt, Bernie Geoffrion, and Pierre Larouche. That's the kind of historical weight that comes with being a Canadiens goal scorer. This isn't just a personal achievement for Caufield. It's a franchise moment.
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Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki broke down exactly what's made Caufield so lethal this season: "Whenever he has a chance to shoot it, there's a high chance it's going in. He's just playing the right way, doing the right things and he's getting rewarded for it." That's not luck talking. That's a player who understands his strengths and executes relentlessly.
With 86 points through 77 games, Caufield has already shattered his previous career high by 16 points. He's also neck and neck with Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon in the race for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's goal-scoring leader. Caufield keeps it grounded though. "We're focused on our team game and winning games, and I think individual stuff comes with that," he said. "But doing the right things, you get more chances and opportunities." That's coach Martin St Louis rubbing off on him, and it's working. Montreal is cruising into the playoffs on the back of Caufield's historic season.
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