Cole Caufield Reflects on Season, Eyes Continued Growth with Canadiens

As the Montreal Canadiens wrapped up their season, right winger Cole Caufield met with the media on Friday to reflect on his individual performance, the team’s progress, and what lies ahead. While the Canadiens missed the playoffs, Caufield referred to this season as a “building block,” acknowledging improvements while stressing the desire for more.

“I’m proud of where we got to,” Caufield said. “Making the playoffs is one step forward, but it’s not the ultimate goal.” That mindset echoes a team-wide belief that this young group is trending in the right direction, even if the road ahead remains steep.

Asked whether he would join Team USA at the upcoming IIHF World Championships, Caufield hesitated. He participated in last year’s tournament, but that didn’t lead to an invitation to the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. “They want the best USA hockey players at the end of the day,” he said. “However that comes to be, it’s how it’s going to be.” When pressed about the potential impact of Worlds on his Olympic aspirations, he kept the focus on development: “I’m just going to try and keep getting better throughout the summer and next year too.”

Caufield, who posted a solid season statistically, emphasized growth as his main takeaway. “I think I took a big step and made a bigger impact,” he said. “That’s what you want to do every year.” He noted that consistency was a key part of his game this season, but he remains focused on improving further in 2025.

When discussing teammates, he was full of praise—particularly for captain Nick Suzuki. “Everybody looks at him and sees his progress and success,” Caufield said. “Playing with him grows my game… I’d love to get to his production within the next couple of years.”

He also spoke highly of Kirby Dach, who missed most of the season due to injury. “When he’s healthy, he can really help push the group forward offensively.” As for the future of the Canadiens, Caufield pointed to Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov as “three very special talents,” underscoring the team’s strong pipeline.

Though challenges remain, Caufield sees a bright path forward. “Next year, things are just going to get harder,” he said. “But we’re up for it. The future is very bright in Montreal.”

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