Stu Cowan: Signing Cole Caufield long-term value threat for Canadiens

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Corridor of Famer Serge Savard likes what he has seen so removed from the Canadiens’ Cole Caufield.

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“He jogs my memory of a man like (Yvan) Cournoyer,” Savard stated once I requested him about Caufield a few months in the past. “He’s constructed like Cournoyer. He’s not tall, however he’s cumbersome and powerful. He’s bought a terrific shot and Yvan had a terrific shot. Yvan was a 40-goal scorer and this man might be. He has plenty of fast pace like Yvan. I do know they’re totally different, however there are similarities between the 2.”

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The Canadiens are actually banking on Caufield to turn out to be a 40-goal scorer — no less than — after agreeing Monday to phrases on an eight-year, US$62.8-million contract with the 22-year-old winger.

Savard’s phrases carry weight since he gained seven Stanley Cups throughout his 15 seasons as a defenceman with the Canadiens and was basic supervisor the final two instances the workforce gained the championship, in 1986 and 1993.

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The 5-foot-7, 152-pound Cournoyer gained 10 Stanley Cups throughout 16 years with the Canadiens and the Corridor of Fame winger had 4 40-goal seasons, together with a career-high 47 in 1971-72. The 5-foot-7, 166-pound Caufield was on tempo to attain 46 targets final season earlier than struggling a season-ending shoulder damage that required surgical procedure. Caufield scored 26 targets in 46 video games earlier than being sidelined and he has 48 targets in 83 video games since Martin St. Louis took over as head coach final season.

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Cournoyer was 25 the primary time he hit the 40-goal mark, scoring 43 in 1968-69. No Canadiens participant has scored 40 targets since Vincent Damphousse scored 40 in 1993-94, and the final to attain 50 was Stéphane Richer, who had 51 targets in 1989-90.

The Caufield contract is the primary massive one Kent Hughes has signed a participant to since taking up as GM final season. Hughes was capable of hold his salary-cap construction in place by signing Caufield for barely lower than what captain Nick Suzuki is incomes. Former GM Marc Bergevin signed Suzuki signed an eight-year, US$63-million contract that kicked on this season with an annual salary-cap hit of $7.875 million. Caufield’s salary-cap hit might be $7.85 million.

The Canadiens are taking a threat signing Caufield for eight years since he has by no means performed greater than 67 video games throughout his first three seasons within the NHL and the shoulder damage raises questions on sturdiness at his dimension. However pure goal-scorers are arduous to seek out and if Caufield does turn out to be a daily 40-goal scorer, this contract will appear to be a cut price.

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It was of venture value taking and the Canadiens now have two cornerstone gamers of their rebuild locked up long-term.

“Cole’s particular,” St. Louis stated when he was a visitor just lately on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. “The factor with Cole is he’s so contagious. His enthusiasm is off the chart. He simply involves the rink it doesn’t matter what and he simply brings everyone with a constructive vitality. I’m happy with what Cole has accomplished since I’ve been there. I can’t say that it’s my doing.

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“On the finish of the day, I believe coaches we deal with the those that deal with the workforce,” St. Louis added. “I don’t deal with the workforce — the gamers deal with the workforce. I deal with the those that deal with the workforce. And that’s what I did with Cole. I simply gave a platform — go play. I do know he’s not a completed product. I do know there’s holes in his sport. However each 21- or 22-year-old has holes in his sport. I had loads of holes in my sport. He’s scoring targets and it’s not one thing I’m going to show Cole easy methods to do. I’m not going to show Cole easy methods to rating targets. Can I assist him in getting extra scoring probabilities? I believe I can. Can I spherical up his sport? Yeah, for positive. However his complete life Cole has been scoring targets.”

Suzuki and Caufield have developed an actual chemistry collectively and shifting ahead the important thing might be discovering a 3rd linemate who can slot in nicely with them. Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 total decide ultimately yr’s NHL Draft, may be capable of flip into that man.

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“I believe (Caufield’s) confirmed that he can rating with one of the best of them and be participant,” Suzuki stated on the finish of this season. “I believe he’s grown lots in his two-way sport and I believe there’s nonetheless room for him to develop. It’s thrilling for what a participant he may turn out to be. I believe he’s accomplished job of proving how he can play and hopefully get him again for long-term.

“We identical to taking part in collectively, studying off one another,” Suzuki added. “We’re capable of finding actually good spots for him to attain. I believe we are able to simply hold getting higher collectively the extra we play collectively. He’s a enjoyable man to play with day-after-day.”

Suzuki and Caufield now have many days forward of them along with the Canadiens.

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