Cole Caufield Bio
Cole Caufield is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 15th overall by the Canadiens in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Caufield has become one of the league’s most dynamic small-stature goal scorers. He is widely recognized for his quick release, hockey sense, and ability to produce in high-pressure moments.
Born in Mosinee, Wisconsin, Caufield rose through the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) before starring at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He won the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player in 2020–21 and has since developed into a franchise cornerstone in Montreal.
Early Life and Background
Cole Caufield was born on January 2, 2001, in Mosinee, Wisconsin, into a hockey-centered family. His father, Paul Caufield, is Canadian, born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and his mother is American. Paul played for the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point from 1988 to 1992 and remains the program’s all-time leading scorer.
Caufield began skating at the age of two and also played baseball and football during his childhood. His father taught him to shoot right-handed, believing that right-side shots have an easier angle to a goaltender’s glove hand. Caufield played Bantam AAA for Team Wisconsin and Stevens Point Area Senior High School, recording 75 goals and 145 points over two seasons.
Hockey runs deep in the Caufield family. His paternal grandfather, Wayne Caufield, was inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 after a semi-professional career that included time with the Milwaukee Admirals of the United States Hockey League. Wayne spent more than two decades coaching youth hockey in the Milwaukee area before passing away in July 2018 at the age of 75.
Path to Hockey
Caufield joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Michigan, during the spring of 2017. In his first season, he led the combined U17 and U18 team with 54 goals and 26 assists, finishing one goal shy of the single-season record of 55 set by Auston Matthews in 2014–15. He also made a verbal commitment to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
During the 2018–19 season, Caufield elevated his game further, scoring 72 goals and 28 assists. His totals surpassed the all-time USNTDP goal record previously held by Phil Kessel and broke Matthews’ single-season mark. Ranked eighth among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, he was selected 15th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and later attended the team’s development camp.
Cole Caufield Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Caufield began his collegiate career with the Wisconsin Badgers in 2019–20 and quickly made an impact. He recorded 19 goals and 17 assists in 36 games, leading the Big Ten in goals and winning the conference scoring title. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, becoming only the second Badger to earn the honor after Trent Frederic in 2017.
With uncertainty surrounding the 2020–21 NCAA season during the COVID-19 pandemic, Caufield opted to return for his sophomore year. He led all of college hockey with 30 goals and 52 points in 31 games, becoming the first back-to-back Big Ten scoring champion. On April 9, 2021, he received the Hobey Baker Award, joining Blake Geoffrion as the only Wisconsin players to win the prestigious honor.
NHL Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Signed to a three-year entry-level contract on March 27, 2021, Caufield was first assigned to the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. He made his NHL debut as an emergency recall on April 26, 2021, and scored his first career goal on May 1 against the Ottawa Senators. Two days later, he became the third player in NHL history to score his first two career goals in overtime.
During the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, Caufield appeared in 20 games and tallied 12 points, trailing only Claude Lemieux and Jacques Lemaire for the most by a Canadiens rookie in a single postseason. He also became the first rookie in league history to record three overtime points in one playoff year.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2022–Present)
After struggling through the early part of the 2021–22 season, Caufield thrived following the midseason arrival of head coach Martin St. Louis. He scored two goals in eight seconds against the Arizona Coyotes on March 15, 2022, the fastest two-goal performance for the Canadiens since Stéphane Richer in 1987. He finished the season with 23 goals and was named NHL Rookie of the Month for March.
In 2022–23, Caufield became a consistent top-line presence alongside Nick Suzuki and recorded 26 goals in 46 games before a shoulder injury required surgery in January 2023. Following the season, he signed an eight-year, $62.8 million contract extension with the Canadiens on June 5, 2023. He set new personal highs with 28 goals and 65 points in 2023–24.
Caufield switched his jersey number from 22 to 13 in September 2024 in tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau. He scored his 100th career NHL goal on December 31, 2024, and his 200th career point on February 25, 2025, reaching that milestone in 263 games, the fastest by a Canadiens player in more than three decades.
Driving Style and Strengths
Caufield is celebrated for his elite shot, particularly a lightning-quick wrist release that makes him dangerous from the circles and slot. His small stature has never limited his confidence or scoring touch, and he pairs his offensive instincts with strong off-puck movement. His chemistry with linemates Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovský has produced one of the NHL’s most reliable top lines.
Notable Events and Milestones
Caufield reached the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career in March 2026, becoming the first Canadiens player to do so since Vincent Damphousse in 1993–94. His 51-goal, 88-point campaign in 2025–26 placed him second in the NHL behind Nathan MacKinnon and earned him the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. He was also named to the NHL Second All-Star Team.
Cole Caufield Career Wins
Caufield has produced a strong collection of individual and team accomplishments across collegiate, professional, and international levels. His Hobey Baker Award, Lady Byng Trophy, and NHL All-Star recognition highlight a career built on consistency and character.
NHL Highlights
In 2025–26, Caufield scored 51 goals and recorded 88 points, finishing second in the NHL goal-scoring race. He tied Guy Lafleur for the most goals by a Canadiens player in a single calendar month, set a new franchise record with his eleventh career overtime winner, and registered his first five-point game against the New York Islanders.
Other Wins & Performances
Caufield led Wisconsin to back-to-back Big Ten scoring titles and earned the Hobey Baker Award in 2020–21. Internationally, he captured gold at the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, while also earning tournament MVP honors at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championship.
Cole Caufield Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey has shaped the Caufield family for generations. His father, Paul Caufield, starred at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and continues to manage Ice Hawks Arena. His brother, Brock, also played for the Wisconsin Badgers and has pursued a professional career in the ECHL with the Cincinnati Cyclones. His late grandfather, Wayne, was a Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and longtime youth coach.
Personal Life
Caufield remains closely tied to his Wisconsin roots and his family. He has spoken publicly about the influence of his father, grandfather, and older brother on his hockey development. His tribute to Johnny Gaudreau by switching to jersey number 13 reflected his respect for fellow smaller-stature players who excelled at the highest level.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 NHL season marked a major step forward for Cole Caufield and the Montreal Canadiens. He set a new career high with 37 goals and 70 points, leading the team offensively. His 200th career point came in 263 games, the fastest by a Canadiens player in more than three decades.
The Canadiens qualified for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2021, advancing past the regular season with renewed energy under Martin St. Louis. Their postseason run ended in the first round with a five-game series loss to the Washington Capitals, but the season signaled a clear upward trajectory for both player and franchise.
Entering 2026, Caufield’s combination of goal-scoring pace and discipline positioned him among the league’s elite. His continued chemistry with Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovský provided a foundation for sustained team success and individual accolades in the seasons ahead.
