After a team practice, Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis spoke to reporters and expressed some unexpected views about Cole Caufield.
St-Louis raised eyebrows with his comments on Caufield, especially considering the player’s impressive start to the season. Despite leading the Canadiens with nine goals in ten games, Caufield has oddly attracted some criticism. This began when analyst Pascal Leclaire suggested benching Caufield for the next game, which sparked significant backlash. While St-Louis didn’t echo that sentiment, he did highlight aspects of Caufield’s game that he believes need improvement.
“I still think Cole is leaving things on the table. I think he should be scoring more goals. It’s not just about taking more shots; it’s about how he positions himself on the ice. I’m pleased with his strong start performance-wise, but I think he still has plenty of work ahead of him.” – Martin St-Louis
It’s surprising to see Caufield scrutinized, particularly given his offensive pace, as one would expect a leading scorer on a team that struggles offensively to receive nothing but praise. However, St-Louis chose to focus on how Caufield could enhance his game rather than merely congratulating him for his achievements. His remarks were constructive rather than harsh, seemingly intended to encourage Caufield to elevate his performance even further, despite already excelling. Fans quickly pointed out that Caufield consistently delivers results, scoring numerous goals while other players underperform, yet he remains the target of criticism.
At a press conference about a week ago, Martin St-Louis acknowledged Caufield’s potential but suggested that there is still room for improvement. While his comments weren’t overly critical, the suggestion that he could “score more” seemed perplexing to some, especially given Caufield’s current success. Given the Canadiens’ overall offensive struggles, it is interesting that St-Louis pinpointed Caufield as needing improvement when several teammates are still trying to find their form.
Expecting Caufield to push for more given his current pace is both a challenge and a compliment. St-Louis clearly holds a high opinion of Caufield’s abilities and appears to be using his platform to motivate the forward to reach his true potential. While some fans might find this public critique concerning, it could also be a strategic move to inspire Caufield by setting ambitious goals. This reflects St-Louis’s high expectations not just for Caufield, but for the entire team. However, if the team fails to perform in the upcoming weeks, it could spell trouble for St-Louis as head coach.
Regardless of the mixed reactions, St-Louis seems to believe in Caufield’s ability to achieve even greater things and sets high standards for both him and the Canadiens as a whole. Whether this approach will yield positive results remains to be seen, but it is clear that significant potential lies ahead for the young goal-scorer.
