How Cole Caufield Added two new Dimensions to his Game in his Draft-Plus-One Season

How does a record-obliterating goal-scorer end up outside the top-10 in their draft-year? By measuring in at 5-foot-7. Oh, and playing alongside No. 1 pick Jack Hughes, along with six other eventual first-rounders.

Truth is, Cole Caufield shouldn’t have been available for the Montréal Canadiens at No. 15, but it wasn’t any surprise. The size, quality of teammates, and play-driving concerns made Caufield an obvious candidate to slide.

Caufield quashed concerns about his size and quality of teammates almost immediately, scoring eight goals through his first eight games of the season. While goal-scoring records stayed safe, he finished with 19 in 36 games, tied for 11th in the NCAA and first among first-year players.

While Caufield’s finishing cooled down, the rest of his game heated up, quas