Cole Caufield made a decision that fits with the team’s current philosophy. He chose to bet on his future and not his present.
Caufield made an X on his season in order to undergo surgery on his right shoulder.
See the reactions of CH coach Martin St-Louis in the main video.
“I spoke to Cole and I know it was a tough call,” said captain Nick Suzuki. He wanted to be here and play. But there’s a bigger picture he had to consider.”
“It’s tough for Cole,” Suzuki continued. I feel bad for him. He would like to be here and play. I know he’s upset, but it will be better for his future.”
A few hours before the visit of the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Bell Centre, the announcement of the injury to Caufield had the effect of a bomb. But it wasn’t a big surprise inside the locker room.
“They had been discussing it for a while,” Suzuki noted. I know Kent (Hughes) was talking with his agent (Pat Brisson). There were several questions about when he should have the operation. From my understanding, they decided last night that it was the right time.
In a press conference, Martin St-Louis also said that he knew the fragile state of health of his number 22 and that he had been dragging this discomfort for a long time. The head coach, however, did not give a window of time to know if he endured this injury for a week, a month, two months or more.
Press briefings by N. Suzuki, J. Harris, J. Anderson and D. Savard –
Enthusiasm before goals
Caufield was the top scorer for CH with 26 goals in 46 games. He was heading for a first season of 40 or more goals, a feat still not achieved by a Habs player since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-1994.
After morning training, Josh Anderson painfully cashed the announcement of the injury to his young teammate.
“It’s very hard, especially when you look at the way Cole was playing,” Anderson said in a faint voice. He was on his way to a 40 or 50 goal season. He also brought a great atmosphere to the locker room. It hurts us. This is devastating news this morning. We didn’t know that until we saw Martin’s lines on the board. It’s hard to talk about it, it’s still fresh.
Beyond goals, Caufield’s energy will be missed by the team.
“Like I told the guys, when you lose Cole, the most important thing to replace is not the goals, but his enthusiasm,” St-Louis said. To replace that, we will have to do it collectively.”
Captain of the CH, Suzuki did not just lose a teammate for the rest of the season. He will now have the challenge of playing without his left winger. Without his faithful accomplice.
“There aren’t many players like Cole in the NHL,” he said. He also brings contagious energy every morning and before games. He has a love for his sport. It’s contagious. It’s hard to lose a player like him. I find it hard.”
LCN: Renaud Lavoie comments on Cole Caufield’s injury –
A long rehabilitation
During his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Anderson once went through shoulder surgery. During the 2019-2020 season, the big winger had gone under the knife for a tear in the labrum in his left shoulder.
Anderson had been playing for nearly a month before finally throwing in the towel.
“I spoke with Cole a bit before practice. He is positive. He knows he will come back 100% and he will feel better. After I had surgery, my left shoulder was stronger than my right. He liked to hear that bit. I have confidence that he will score even more goals. He will come back stronger.”
St-Louis had the same story.
“I’m not worried Cole won’t forget how to score goals.”
A different scenario
Not so long ago, Carey Price and Shea Weber also donned the CH uniform for several games while hiding injuries. Suzuki, however, clarified that Caufield’s situation is not the same.
“Hockey players are known to play with injuries. We endure the pain, we play with sores. Cole had been playing with that for quite a while. He showed he was brave. But he also had to focus on his future, he is very young. Carey and Shea found themselves in another situation. For Cole, he still has several seasons ahead of him.
“It’s probably the best decision for him and his future, but also for the future of the team,” he continued. We know our position as a team. We are low in the standings, we still have several injuries. It reminds me of last year when we had several strange injuries.
