Stu Cowan: Cole Caufield lives up to the hype in his pro debut

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Cole Caufield was already trending on Twitter in Canada early Friday night.

Part of the reason was the Canadiens’ top prospect was named the Hobey Baker Award winner as the top player in U.S. college hockey. About 30 minutes after that announcement, Caufield made his pro debut with the AHL’s Laval Rocket in Toronto against the Marlies.

The fact a 20-year-old who has yet to play a game in the NHL was trending is a sign of just how excited Canadiens fans are about Caufield. The game was also televised on RDS and broadcast on TSN 690 Radio.

Caufield didn’t disappoint, scoring two goals — including the winner — and adding an assist in a 5-3 Rocket victory.

Caufield’s first goal came at 1:28 of the second period with a one-timer blast on the power play from the faceoff circle to the right of Marlies goalie Joseph Woll. His second goal at 9:43 of the third period came after streaking down the left side, taking a shot and then roofing his rebound.

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Two goal-scorer’s goals.

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It’s hard to remember the last time there was this much excitement about a Canadiens’ prospect.

The reason is that Caufield can score goals — lots of them up to this point in his career. The 5-foot-7, 170-pound right-winger had 30-22-52 totals in 31 games this season as a sophomore with the University of Wisconsin to lead the NCAA in goals and points. During his first season at Wisconsin, Caufield had 19-17-36 totals in 36 games and tied for the lead among NCAA freshmen in goals.

The season before the Canadiens selected Caufield in the first round (15th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, he had 72-28-100 totals in 64 games with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program’s U-18 team. His 72 goals broke the previous record of 55 for the U-18 team that was set by Auston Matthews. Caufield also scored a record 126 goals in 123 career games with the U-18 team.

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Size has always been the biggest question mark about Caufield and it’s why he was still available when the Canadiens drafted him. But his quick-release shot is already elite level in any league, he knows how to find open ice and he’s quick enough to get there.

All those things were on display in Caufield’s AHL debut. He certainly didn’t look out of place and you have to think it’s just a matter of time before he makes his NHL debut with the Canadiens this season, especially with Brendan Gallagher out for six weeks with a fractured thumb.

Rocket head coach Joël Bouchard is the man in charge now of making sure Caufield is ready when he does make his NHL debut. Bouchard put Caufield on a line with playmaking centre Jordan Weal and 6-foot-2, 205-pound left-winger Yannick Veilleux. They’re two experienced pros that Bouchard said are good players, good guys and “play the right way.”

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“For me, Cole playing tonight it’s exciting because it’s his first game pro,” Bouchard said after Friday’s morning skate. “But I was excited for (Jacob) Leguerrier last game that he played his first game pro that nobody really talked about and he did really well. So I’m always as a coach trying to treat everybody the same in some way and I’m always excited for them when they have a milestone like that, which is exciting. So it’s fun.”

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But Caufield isn’t the same as every other player. The pressure on him will be immense from a Canadiens fan base that is so excited about the arrival of a natural goal-scorer, something the team badly needs.

After getting drafted, Caufield said he was looking for the quickest route to the NHL. But the Canadiens have handled his progress very well up to this point by not rushing him, having him play two full seasons at Wisconsin under coach Tony Granato, allowing him to mature both on and off the ice while also getting stronger in the gym.

Caufield had to go through seven days of COVID-19 quarantine after arriving in Montreal from Wisconsin, but was involved in Zoom meetings with the Rocket and also one-on-one with Bouchard to go over some of the adjustments to a new team and league.

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“I got to let him play a little bit,” Bouchard said. “He’s a hockey player. He’s been in big-stage games. He’s been in world juniors twice, he’s played in championship games. So I got to let him be a little bit and just give him opportunity and assignments. But he’s a hockey player. He’s got to feel it out and find solutions.

“He probably feels he belongs in the pros and in the NHL at one point,” Bouchard added. “And you need that belief in yourself. Those credentials that he has, regardless of the game tonight or tomorrow, give him that bit of a swagger to say he’s a hockey player. Like, he gets it, he’ll figure it out. He’s going to be fine.”

He was more than fine in his Rocket debut.

scowan@postmedia.com

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