The only ppl that can say this, dont understand what they are watching.

The way Cole can slip out of coverage and find seams is elite forget his shot, puck handling. Its the same with Bedard ppl dont understand how difficult it is to shoot with your stick close to your body without a release. That is Bedard's best tool among everything else.

The naysayers just prove they are not worth listening.

He used a cherrypicked game sample size to make Caufield appear like something he isn't.

Tell me you don't watch Montreal play without telling me.

Caufield has been one of the best, if not the best on Montreal in preseason.

Couldn't beat the Marlies, Knies and half a Leafs Defensive core though 😉

What about now? They beat the Leafs big dogs

Shane Pinto will have a better NHL career than Cole Caufield.SensCentral

— Ross Levitan (RossLevitan) March 16, 2021

Fewest games to 6 career OT goals, NHL historyCole Caufield 130 👀Brayden Point 190Frank Finnigan 192#GoHabsGo

— Sportsnet Stats (SNstats) October 27, 2023

This reminds me of the Norris contract. It seems risky, because it is a player who has a small sample size and has been injured multiple times. With that said, you sign this contract 10/10 times. Risk goes both ways. Contracts might explode in a few years the player's share of COVID escrow is paid back.

I think the Canadiens would have been better with a slightly higher AAV and a back loaded contract structure. A big advantage to signing these young stars to long term deals coming off of their ELC is that teams usually have a few years before the player turns 27. That means, if things don't work out the player can be bought out for half the usual penalty. An example of how much this buyout saves teams, Colin White's 4.75M contract only cost Ottawa an average dead cap of of 771k to buyout. The problem with front loading these contracts is that teams have to pay back the surplus of cap they saved by front loading the contract. While Caufield's salary isn't "buyout proof", because the contract was front loaded it might heavily dissuade a U26 buyout.

Overall, Montreal did a good job to enforce Suzuki's cap hit as their ceiling. Caufield probably should have cost a bit more than this on a full term deal. He didn't get a NMC. He didn't get wacky signing bonuses. The only downside was that the contract is front loaded, which partially disrupts the Canadiens ability to benefit from a U26 buyout if things don't go well.

Dude had a lower PPG than Nylander did over their ELCs, and is MUCH worse defensively.
Y'all are getting turnt over a overvalue contract lmao

Yeah these forums are wildly inconsistent.

Will Nylander = 0.73 points per game after 185 games ... signed for 8.7% of the salary cap = "DuBaS gOt BeNt OvEr"
Cole Caufield = 0.68 points per game after 123 games ... signed for 9.5% of the salary cap = "WhAt A fRiGgIn StEeLl"

If Caufield starts the season with a lower SH% he's gonna have a rough year.

He has just 2 goals where the opposing team has more than 3 players on the ice

Habs haters down bad. The only 1st liner on the Habs strikes again lmao

This. He also has the same amount of points than Matthews has goals while being an issue defensively.

He has just 2 goals where the opposing team has more than 3 players on the ice

Hey Andy Dick:

Caufield has ZERO 5 on 5 goals in 18 games this season.
Caufield has FOUR 5 on 5 points in 18 games this season.
Caufield has 69.5% OZ starts this year (he's still a DZ liability).

Maybe your spree of attacks was a bit premature?
Or does Caufield still look like a steal at 8 million?

Auston Matthews current Goal Pace: 61.5

Jack Hughes current Point Pace/2: 60.5

Cole Caufield current Point Pace: 58.5

Andy_Dick
drewjenkins
dgibb10

Still a good contract?

Hey, Jack Hughes is on pace for 135 points/82

20 games (again I refuse to count 3 minutes vs St Louis), 33 points

Auston Matthews current Goal Pace: 61.5

Jack Hughes current Point Pace/2: 60.5

Cole Caufield current Point Pace: 58.5

Matthew Knies Goal Pace: 0.25

Cole Caufield Goal Pace: 0.25

Andy_Dick
drewjenkins
dgibb10

Still a good contract for Caufield?

Caufield currently has

A worse 5v5 P/60 than Phil Di Giuseppe, Ben Chiarot, Brock McGinn, Dakota Joshua, Curtis Lazar

As many 5v5 points as Cal Clutterbuck. Less 5v5 points than Chiarot, Tyler Myers, Niko Mikkola, Anthony Mantha, Marcus Johansson, and Jason Dickinson

Less 5v5 goals than Radko Gudas, Luke Glendening, Kevin Stenlund, and Jimmy Vesey

Contract isn’t looking too good early on, although there is still time for him to improve