In a remarkable twist of hockey history, former Montreal Canadiens captain Vincent Damphousse finds himself at the center of a statistical anomaly that has persisted for more than three decades. The last Canadiens player to score 40 goals in a single season, Damphousse achieved the feat in 1994, and he now watches with amazement as current winger Cole Caufield closes in on ending that lengthy drought.
A Milestone Long Overdue
"I'm surprised it has taken that long," Damphousse revealed in an exclusive telephone interview with The Gazette. "I thought I was going to do it again. I did it in '94, and I thought it was going to be more of a trend for me. It's difficult and it just shows how hard it is."
Damphousse elaborated on the challenges of reaching such a scoring pinnacle, emphasizing that consistency, health, and the ability to navigate both hot streaks and cold spells are critical components. "You've got to be consistent throughout the year. You can't have too many slumps. You've got to go on hot streaks once in a while because there's going to be some cold spells. But if you limit your time when you're struggling, you can get it done. Consistency is the key," he explained.
Caufield's Impressive Campaign
Heading into Tuesday night's home game against the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre, Cole Caufield had amassed 39 goals and 66 points in just 65 games this season. The young winger is not only on the verge of matching Damphousse's 40-goal achievement but could potentially reach the 50-goal mark before the campaign concludes.
Damphousse, who now serves as an RDS commentator and Canadiens ambassador, expressed no surprise that Caufield is the player poised to break the long-standing record. "Cole has shown that he's a true, natural scorer since he got to the Canadiens," Damphousse noted. "They have a better team now with a lot of offence coming from the back end. And he's got a good centre in Nick Suzuki. Cole's always in good position. It's not a matter of if he's going to do it, it's more a matter of when."
The Art of Scoring
Damphousse highlighted Caufield's exceptional shooting ability and positional awareness as key factors in his success. "Cole rarely goes in a long slump," he observed. "When he gets hot, he can score a goal a game for 10 games straight. He's always in great position. He's got this unbelievable shot. Precision and quickness. It's not something that I had. I could score goals, but I didn't have the shot that he has."
He further praised Caufield's innate talent, stating, "Cole has this knack that you can't teach. He's in good position, always around the net. As soon as the puck hits his stick, it's gone. It's unbelievable to see him. He always seems to make the right decision."
Reflecting on Past Glory
Damphousse's own 40-goal season in 1993-94 was a notable accomplishment, particularly given that he scored in only 29 of the 84 games he played that year. His 40th goal came on April 11, 1994, in a 3-1 victory over the Hartford Whalers, with Sean Burke in net. That season, Damphousse recorded seven two-goal games and two hat-tricks, finishing with 91 points—the fourth-highest total of his illustrious career.
"I remember I was very happy when I scored my 40th," Damphousse recalled. "It's a milestone, and I came close numerous times in my career. I was just happy to get it. It's a bit unusual for me to have almost as many goals as assists. As a player, you want to hit those marks when you're that close. That's part of the motivation."
Navigating the Highs and Lows
Throughout his 18-season NHL career, which included stints with Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, and San Jose, Damphousse learned to manage the inevitable fluctuations in performance. "I was always a slow starter. But I always had a streak where I was really hot. I always had some sequences when I wasn't producing for a while. You need to get those hot streaks to kind of even that out," he shared.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining composure, especially in a demanding market like Montreal. "During the season, it's normal to have ups and downs. It's just the way it goes. Sometimes you feel really good. Some months, you struggle a little bit for different reasons. I can't explain why. But I was pretty level-headed. Good or bad, I kept things in perspective. You have to be level-headed—especially in a market like Montreal—and believe in your abilities."
Damphousse retired after the 2004 season with 432 goals and 1,205 points in 1,378 regular-season games, leaving behind a legacy that Caufield is now poised to build upon as he approaches a milestone that has eluded the Canadiens for 32 years.
