Canadiens forward Cole Caufield will miss the rest of the season with a right shoulder injury, the team announced on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Caufield will have surgery “in the near future” and an update on his rehabilitation schedule will be issued following the surgery.
- According to the team, Caufield, who played more than 17 minutes in Thursday’s loss to the Florida Panthers, has been playing for some time despite the injury.
- The 22-year-old sniper has 36 points in 46 games this season and leads the Canadiens with 26 goals.
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What this means for the Canadian
The year of development and progression that the Canadiens’ young players were to experience suffered a severe blow as in the space of a week, Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky both found themselves faced with long-term absences . This is the worst news the team could receive as there is simply no way to replace Caufield’s offensive production internally.
Although he has often been seen as a threat on the power play because of his dangerous one-timer shot, Caufield does the vast majority of his damage at even strength, having participated directly in 28% of the Canadiens’ goals at 5-against- 5 this season. His 17 goals at 5-on-5 gave him seventh place in the league. NHLtied with Sidney Crosby and Brayden Point.
“Like I said to the guys, the most important thing that we’re going to have to replace in Cole is not his goals, it’s his enthusiasm, and it’s going to have to be done collectively,” however observed. head coach Martin St-Louis.
When did Caufield get injured?
Although Caufield was hit hard by Trevor Lewis in a game against the Calgary Flames on Dec. 12, no one game in particular has been identified as the source of that injury. Caufield would have developed it gradually over the season and was playing despite herself. He was evaluated after each game, and St-Louis was aware that Caufield would eventually have to close the books. Eventually, new information came in Friday night that led the team to this conclusion.
“Obviously I knew a lot about it,” said captain Nick Suzuki. It was a lingering injury he was dealing with. He tried to play despite herself and he decided it was best to stop and prepare for next year. It’s hard for Cole, I sympathize with him. He wants to be there and play. He’s upset, but I think it’s better for his future and for next year. »
In 2020, while playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Josh Anderson played for a month with a posterior labral tear in his left shoulder before being forced into surgery. He says it took him seven months to regain full power. Anderson had a little chat with Caufield just before the start of morning practice on Saturday and tried to reassure him.
“I told her that since I had surgery on my left shoulder, she feels stronger than the right,” Anderson said. He liked to hear that bit. »
In all likelihood, the decision to end Caufield’s season at this time should allow him to be fully healthy at the start of the next campaign, and there is certainly more to be gained from having a healthy Cole Caufield. in the future rather than seeing him negotiate unduly with this injury in the middle of what we can call a lost season for the Canadian.
Who will take over?
Caufield’s absence will obviously have an impact on Suzuki, and St-Louis will have to work hard to find alternatives within the first line, especially since Caufield has become the eighth forward in the squad to be sidelined due to a ‘a wound.
Sean Monahan participated in morning practice on Saturday wearing a non-contact jersey, and his possible return could allow St. Louis to temporarily replace Kirby Dach alongside Suzuki. Until then, Suzuki will face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday flanked by Anderson and Rem Pitlick. The power play will certainly have a different face from now on, and Jesse Ylönen could be a candidate to take Caufield’s place as the favored shooter on the five attack.
Note also that forward Alex Belzile was recalled from the Laval Rocket to take Caufield’s place in the roster of 23 players.
Long-term impacts?
The Canadian and the Caufield camp had begun talks with the aim of coming to an agreement for a new contract, and it will be interesting to see if this injury will influence the course of the negotiations.
General manager Kent Hughes said earlier this week that, in the situation in which the Canadiens find themselves, “wins are good, but only up to a point”. If he cares about that, Caufield’s absence could hurt the team’s winning tally by the end of the season.
The DG will comment on the situation of his sniper during the next week.
(Photo: David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)