Martin St. Louis Ignites Cole Caufield's Scoring Surge with Montreal Canadiens
When Martin St. Louis took over as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens in February 2022, one of his first priorities was a pivotal conversation with young forward Cole Caufield. This meeting would prove to be a turning point in Caufield's career, transforming him from a struggling scorer into one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive threats.
From Scoring Slump to Record Pace
Caufield's early 2021-22 season presented unprecedented challenges for the talented forward. With just one goal in his first 30 games and a demotion to the AHL's Laval Rocket, Caufield experienced his first serious goal-scoring drought in a hockey career marked by consistent offensive production.
The transformation began immediately after St. Louis replaced Dominique Ducharme as head coach. Caufield scored in each of his first two games under the new leadership and has maintained that momentum ever since. His recent achievement of reaching 30 goals makes him the fastest Canadien to hit that mark since Stéphane Richer in 1989-90.
Coaching Philosophy and Player Development
"I don't remember exactly the conversation," St. Louis recalled about his initial meeting with Caufield. "I came here, tried to bring some enthusiasm to the group and we talked about offence only. So I think that really raised Cole's enthusiasm and he started scoring."
The coach emphasized that his approach wasn't about teaching Caufield how to score, but rather how to position himself to score more frequently. This strategic shift, combined with St. Louis's player-centric coaching style, created the perfect environment for Caufield's talents to flourish.
Caufield reflected on the impact of his coach's guidance: "It's an honour and privilege to play for a guy like that. It's really special how he handles his players. He knows how to get the most out of them."
Historical Context and Current Performance
The Canadiens haven't had a 50-goal scorer since Richer's 51-goal season in 1989-90, and haven't seen a 40-goal scorer since Vincent Damphousse achieved that mark in 1993-94. Caufield's current pace of 46 goals this season puts him in rare company within the franchise's history.
His recent performance includes scoring in six consecutive games, with nine goals during that span. This streak ties him with Max Domi (2019-20) and Max Pacioretty (2014-15) for the longest goal-scoring run by a Canadiens player in the past three decades.
Beyond Goal Scoring: Becoming a Complete Player
St. Louis noted that Caufield's development extends beyond his scoring ability. "What impresses me more with Cole is he's not just a goal-scorer anymore. I feel like he's engaged defensively and not just in our zone, but the assignments from goal line to goal line, coming back towards our zone. It could be on the forecheck, too. He's just a more complete player and he hasn't stopped scoring goals."
This evolution represents significant growth for a player whose previous reputation centered almost exclusively on his offensive capabilities.
Memorable Moments and Personal Reflections
Caufield recalled a particularly challenging period during his scoring slump when he found inspiration skating on an outdoor rink in Montreal. "I know I scored a couple of times that day," he remembered with a chuckle. "It was just cool to play with kids. Just have fun. It was COVID, where we couldn't practise, and just to get on the ice and enjoy it — just to see those kids having fun, it's a good reminder to know how much you mean to these people."
This experience helped him reconnect with the fundamental joys of hockey during a difficult professional period. "You remember why you play the game," Caufield reflected. "It's about more than just scoring goals and stuff. It's about being with the guys and competing with them every day."
Despite this perspective, Caufield acknowledges the increased enjoyment that comes with consistent scoring success. His transformation under St. Louis's guidance demonstrates how strategic coaching and player development can unlock elite performance, creating one of the most compelling success stories in recent Canadiens history.
