Cole
Caufield
R · MTL · Offensive · Elite
- PAL
- 97
- WAR
- 4.8
- Value
- 96
- PTS
- 88
2025-26№ 5 / 615
Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Cole Caufield
#13RPlays: Right wing · 2% of faceoffs
Montreal Canadiens
HEIGHT : 173 cm · WEIGHT : 79 kg · SHOOTS : R
Born : January 1, 2001 · Mosinee, United States
Drafted : 2019 · MTL · round 1, pick #15
Contract : $7,850,000 · 2023-24 → 2030-31 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA · Signing bonus $5,000,000M-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Montréal Canadiens | 17 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 8 |
| 2025-26 | Montréal Canadiens | 81 | 51 | 37 | 88 | 14 |
| 2024-25 | Montréal Canadiens | 82 | 37 | 33 | 70 | 14 |
| 2023-24 | Montréal Canadiens | 82 | 28 | 37 | 65 | 16 |
| 2022-23 | Montréal Canadiens | 46 | 26 | 10 | 36 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | Montréal Canadiens | 67 | 23 | 20 | 43 | 10 |
| 2020-21 | Montréal Canadiens | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| NHL totals | 385 | 180 | 143 | 323 | 66 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Montréal Canadiens | 19 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | Montréal Canadiens | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Montréal Canadiens | 20 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 44 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 0 | |
Honours
- 🏆 Lady Byng Memorial Trophyonce · 2025-26
Cole Caufield: our analysis
2025-26 season: 81 GP, 51 G, 37 A, 88 PTS, +29 +/-, 18:11 TOI. WAR 4.8 (5th of 615) · PAL 97, elite.
In 2025-26, Cole Caufield, 25, posts a PAL Rating of 97 out of 100 (elite), and his WAR of 4.8 ranks 5th among 615 regulars, among the league's elite.
His strengths: shooting (100, among the best in the league), offense (98, among the best in the league) and creation (98, among the best in the league). On the other hand, defense (23, well below average) and penalty kill (36, below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: finishing (+16.4); his biggest cost: EV defense (-1.9).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 68 in 2024-25 to 97; his WAR went from 2.6 to 4.8.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 96 (exceptional value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Cole Caufield's story
Growing up in Mosinee, Wisconsin, Caufield was on skates from age two and learned hockey in a household where the game mattered. His father, Canadian by birth, worked early with him on shooting technique and his older brother provided an everyday hockey companion. Before joining national development squads, he stood out in Wisconsin youth and high-school circuits for his goal scoring.
He broke through with the USNTDP, setting goal-scoring marks and earning a place at the University of Wisconsin. The Montreal Canadiens selected him 15th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Caufield played two seasons with the Badgers (2019–20 and 2020–21), leading the NCAA in goals and points in 2020–21 and capturing the Hobey Baker Award as the top Division I player.
Montreal signed him to a three-year entry-level deal on 27 March 2021; he debuted professionally with the Laval Rocket on 9 April, recording two goals and an assist. Recalled to the Canadiens later that month, he made his NHL debut on 26 April and scored his first NHL goal in overtime on 1 May, his first two career markers both coming in overtime — an unusual start. He finished his inaugural playoff run with 12 points in 20 games, a notable output for a rookie.
Caufield’s early pro arc has included adjustment periods, a shoulder operation that ended his 2022–23 season, and major contract security: an eight-year, $62.8-million extension signed 5 June 2023. He changed his jersey number to 13 in September 2024 and reached consecutive career milestones thereafter — including his 100th goal, 200th point and 100th assist — while helping the Canadiens return to the playoffs in 2025. The 2025–26 season produced career highs: he reached the 50-goal mark, finished with 51 goals and 88 points, earned the Lady Byng Trophy and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team.
On the ice, Caufield is defined by an instinctive scoring touch and a quick, accurate release. He has made a reputation for finishing plays, finding openings in tight spaces, and improving his play away from the puck as he’s taken on top-line responsibilities.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 18:32
- PP TOI/GP
- 3:34
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:00
- Pts/GP
- 0.94
- EV points
- 12
- Hits
- 12
- Blocks
- 3
- Takeaways
- 3
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 54.2 %
- Off. zone starts
- 40.3 %
- Faceoffs
- 66.7 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
85between 61 and 102 (80% range)
- Goals
- 51
- Assists
- 35
- Games
- 83
So far: 16 pts in 17 games. The team has played 17 of 84 games. Projected pace: 1.06 pts per game (last season: 1.09).
Three straight seasons of growth. Since 2018, of 97 players in that spot, 23 kept improving the next season; on average, their pace fell back to 90% of their best season.
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Trending up
- Points per game: 0.79 in 23-24, 1.09 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 68 → 97
Outlook, age included
↑ Trending upAge 25: prime years
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 84 %
95
NHL elite
- SK
- Skating
- 77
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 47
- Confidence 86 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 88
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 85
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 66
- Confidence 86 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 58
- Confidence 64 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 89
- Confidence 86 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 83
- Confidence 84 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 98
- Confidence 84 %
- DF
- Defense
- 65
- Confidence 81 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 95
- Confidence 71 %
- EX
- Experience
- 79
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating77
- Top speed (35 %)36.1 · 76
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)4.239 · 69
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.7 · 88
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.6 · 79
ST — Strength47
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)2.942 · 62
- Body mass (50 %)-1.83 · 47
EN — Endurance88
- Ice time per game (45 %)17.1 · 85
- Total ice time (20 %)1,413 · 87
- Shift length (15 %)51.1 · 89
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)16.7 · 87
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)3.097 · 84
DU — Durability85
- Share of games played (100 %)0.871 · 85
CK — Checking66
- Hits /60 (70 %)2.778 · 65
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)1.985 · 63
- Season volume (10 %)3.932 · 70
FG — Fighting58
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.667 · 58
DI — Discipline89
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.066 · 88
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.363 · 93
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.752 · 74
PA — Passing83
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.877 · 82
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.542 · 79
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.251 · 87
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)5.259 · 85
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.222 · 57
SC — Scoring98
- Goals /60 (25 %)1.676 · 98
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)1.268 · 94
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)1.708 · 96
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.786 · 86
- xG per shot (10 %)0.082 · 82
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)18.9 · 87
DF — Defense65
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.108 · 60
- Relative xG against (20 %)0.072 · 70
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.876 · 58
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.035 · 70
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.256 · 80
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)57.9 · 77
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)1.468 · 55
PS — Penalty shot95
- Shootouts (60 %)40.7 · 96
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience79
- Career regular-season games (65 %)83
- Career playoff games (25 %)72
- NHL seasons (10 %)66
OV — Overall95
- SC · Scoring (28 %)98
- PA · Passing (22 %)83
- DF · Defense (18 %)65
- SK · Skating (12 %)77
- EN · Endurance (8 %)88
- DI · Discipline (5 %)89
- ST · Strength (4 %)47
- CK · Checking (3 %)66
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 95 | 77 | 98 | 65 |
| 2024-25 | 83 | 77 | 91 | 56 |
| 2023-24 | 81 | 78 | 85 | 60 |
| 2022-23 | 75 | 77 | 88 | 62 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
4.8
wins above replacement
5 of 615
PAL Rating
97/ 100
Performance · Elite
12 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
96/ 100
Exceptional value
7.85 M$ · expected PAL 72
ProfileOffensiveValue comes mostly from offense
- Offense
- 98
- Defense
- 36
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 98
- Creation
- 98
- Shooting
- 100
- Possession
- 89
- Defense
- 23
- Discipline
- 80
- Power play
- 64
- Penalty kill
- 36
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | MTL | 4.8 | 97 | 96 | 7.85 M$ |
| 2024-25 | MTL | 2.6 | 68 | 40 | 7.85 M$ |
| 2023-24 | MTL | 0.3 | 49 | 20 | 7.85 M$ |
| 2022-23 | MTL | 2.0 | 53 | 67 | 0.88 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
95/ 100
Elite
better than 95% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
79/ 100
Very good
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
93/ 100
Elite
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Why 95, higher than both scores? Overall IQ isn't an average, it's a rank: 20 of 424 forwards. Few players are good at both ends at once; being so puts Cole Caufield ahead of almost everyone else.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 60
- Shot selection
- 78
- Penalties drawn
- 50
- Puck management
- 82
Defense
- Takeaways
- 53
- Discipline
- 82
- Safe zone exits
- 96
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | MTL | 95 | 79 | 93 |
| 2024-25 | MTL | 98 | 89 | 95 |
| 2023-24 | MTL | 84 | 56 | 90 |
| 2022-23 | MTL | 68 | 27 | 87 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
4.8
wins above replacement
2.9 to 6.8 — 90% interval
5 of 615 forwards
+25.1 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +6.7
- EV defense
- -1.9
- Power play
- -1.3
- Penalty kill
- 0.0
- Shooting
- +16.4
- Penalties
- +1.5
- Average → replacement
- +3.7
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | MTL | 81 | 4.8 | 2.9 to 6.8 | 5/615 |
| 2024-25 | MTL | 78 | 2.6 | 1.1 to 4.2 | 46/596 |
| 2023-24 | MTL | 82 | 0.3 | -1.3 to 1.9 | 264/608 |
| 2022-23 | MTL | 46 | 2.0 | 0.7 to 3.7 | 64/617 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 137.5 km/h70th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 35.1 km/h47th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 2056th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 45.5 %84th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 83.4 km90th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 6.10 km92nd percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 41.7 %64th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 17.5 %25th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 36.9 %81st percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 5797th percentile | 1199th percentile | 19.3 %77th percentile |
| High danger | 1278th percentile | 386th percentile | 25.0 %68th percentile |
| Mid range | 1996th percentile | 498th percentile | 21.1 %77th percentile |
| Long range | 383rd percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %87th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
🔥 3-game point streak
TOR
UTA
WPG
PIT
DAL
STL
CHI
SJS
BUF
WSH
DET
NSH
CARCole Caufield: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Cole Caufield have in 2026-27?
Cole Caufield has 11 goals and 16 points (5 assists) in 17 games in 2026-27.
How old is Cole Caufield?
Cole Caufield is 25 years old: he was born on January 2, 2001.
How tall is Cole Caufield, and how much does he weigh?
Cole Caufield is 5'8" (173 cm) and weighs 174 lb (79 kg).
Where is Cole Caufield from?
United States: Cole Caufield was born in Mosinee, Wisconsin, United States.
What team does Cole Caufield play for?
Cole Caufield plays for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL, at R, wearing number 13.
Is Cole Caufield injured?
No: Cole Caufield is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Cole Caufield?
Cole Caufield produced 4.8 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 5th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 97 out of 100: elite for his position.
How much does Cole Caufield make?
Cole Caufield earns $7.9M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 96 out of 100 (exceptional value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Cole Caufield's contract end?
Cole Caufield's contract runs through the 2030-31 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is Cole Caufield overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 96 out of 100 (exceptional value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Cole Caufield a top-10 player at his position?
Yes: by WAR, he ranks 5th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Cole Caufield getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 68 in 2024-25 to 97 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Cole Caufield played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Cole Caufield has 12 points (8 goals, 4 assists).
What are Cole Caufield's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Cole Caufield has 385 games, 180 goals, 143 assists and 323 points. His best season: 2025-26, with 88 points in 81 games.
Where was Cole Caufield drafted?
Cole Caufield was drafted 15th overall (round 1) by Montreal Canadiens in 2019.
Is Cole Caufield better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 1.00 points per game at home (9 in 9 games) and 0.88 on the road (7 in 8 games).
How does Cole Caufield perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Cole Caufield has 44 games and 29 points in his career. His pace (0.66 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.84).
Which player is most similar to Cole Caufield?
Matthew Tkachuk: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Matthew Tkachuk's page →Is Cole Caufield a good fantasy pick?
Yes, a top-tier pick: our projection has him at 85 points in 2026-27, or 1.02 points per game.
Does Cole Caufield have siblings?
Yes: his brother Brock Caufield (played for the Wisconsin Badgers and is a member of the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)).
Is Cole Caufield related to anyone famous?
Yes: Paul Caufield (father, played for the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (1988–1992), the team's all-time leading scorer, and is manager of Ice Hawks Arena); Wayne Caufield (paternal grandfather, member of the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame (since 2011), played semi-professional hockey (1963–1976) and coached/ran hockey clinics).
What is Cole Caufield's nationality?
Cole Caufield is American. Internationally: United States: gold medal at the U17 WHC (2017); silver medal at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2018); bronze medal at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2019); gold medal at the World Junior Championship (2021); senior World Championship appearance (2024), eliminated in quarterfinals.
What awards has Cole Caufield won?
Hobey Baker Award (top NCAA Division I player) — 2021 ; AHCA First-Team All-American — 2021 ; Big Ten Player of the Year — 2020–21 ; First-Team All-Big Ten — 2020–21 ; Big Ten All-Tournament Team — 2020–21 ; NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team — 2020–21 ; Big Ten Freshman of the Year — 2019–20 ; Big Ten All-Freshman Team — 2019–20; and more.
How many championships has Cole Caufield won?
5: Gold medal, World U-17 Hockey Challenge (U17 WHC) with USA — 2017; Gold medal, Four Nations Cup (Russia) with USA — 2017; Silver medal, IIHF U18 World Championship with USA — 2018; Bronze medal, IIHF U18 World Championship with USA — 2019; Gold medal, World Junior Championship with USA — 2021.
What is Cole Caufield's nickname?
He is nicknamed Mr. Saturday Night.
Where did Cole Caufield play before turning pro?
Team Wisconsin and SPASH (Bantam AAA) before spring 2017; USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) in Plymouth, Michigan (joined spring 2017); University of Wisconsin–Madison (Badgers) — 2019–2021.
How many points is Cole Caufield projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 85 points in 83 games in 2026-27 (61 to 102 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Montreal Canadiens teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)