Cole Caufield didn’t use his time in Las Vegas to kick up any dust about the Montreal Canadiens’ quiet offseason. Instead, the Habs winger spent his NHL Player Media Tour media session talking about growth, standards and the young core that’s driving this team forward.
Representing Montreal at the event on Wednesday, Caufield took part in a 20-minute availability with reporters and made it clear he trusts the people steering the roster.
“We trust the guys that have built this up for us. They wouldn’t do anything that would change the direction or the path that we want to go.
For us, it’s all about internally: how do we get better, and how do you push the group from inside? Everybody kind of knows the standards, obviously, but kind of how we play is only going to get cleaner, more detailed; I think we’re in a good spot.”
That answer fit the tone of the whole session. Caufield wasn’t looking outward for fixes. He was focused on the Canadiens getting sharper within their own structure, the kind of detail and discipline the young group saw from the Carolina Hurricanes when they were overwhelmed in the Eastern Conference final.
He also made one thing obvious: if he could borrow a skill from anyone in the league, he wouldn’t go far. Caufield pointed straight to teammate Ivan Demidov.
“Demi’s skating, his cutbacks, his turns, how he handles the puck and collects stuff off the wall- it’s just something that we work on all the time, and just being able to do those without thinking about doing that, instead thinking about what you’re doing next […] Demi’s taking a lot of strides in his game over the last two summers, and he’s still so young. What he’s able to do and the power he’s added to his game is definitely fun to watch.”
The way Caufield described Demidov lined up with the eye test. The Russian forward can make difficult plays look routine, buying himself that extra beat to read the ice and decide what comes next.
Caufield was also asked about Lane Hutson and the physical attention he drew against Carolina, but he didn’t sound concerned about the defenseman handling that kind of test.
“Yeah, I think everybody learns some nice things. If guys are coming after you, it’s a good thing; they’re going to try to target him, and he’s usually the guy with the puck a lot, so it makes sense. Again, this guy’s taking strides; both these guys [Demidov and Hutson] are going to have really good years, and we’re lucky they’re on our side.”
That was the thread running through Caufield’s comments: a young Canadiens group still climbing, still adding layers, still learning together. From his perspective, the work is happening from the inside out, and that’s exactly where Montreal wants it.
In Other News...
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Chris Kreider Option Worth Debating
Chris Kreiders availability has changed the conversation for Montreal in a pretty meaningful way. Instead of needing to engineer a trade to get him out of New York, the Canadiens can now consider a straight free-agent signing, which opens the door to a shorter-term add that would not cost them assets. For a team still shaping its forward group, that kind of flexibility matters, especially when the player in question brings a track record of scoring, playoff experience and a heavier style that can play in more than one type of game.
The fit is easy to see from Montreals side because Kreider checks a lot of boxes the Canadiens have been missing at different points. He could provide a useful layer of immediate help without forcing a long-term commitment, and his physical presence would give the roster a different look. The unanswered part is whether Montreal sees enough value to move quickly on the idea, or whether this stays one of those tempting options that makes sense on paper but never quite reaches the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Face One Big Kirill Marchenko Trade Problem
Kirill Marchenkos name has quietly entered the trade conversation around the Blue Jackets, and that is enough to make the market worth watching for Canadiens fans. Columbus general manager Don Waddell has said he is willing to listen if teams come calling, even if he is not actively working the phones on a deal right now. Montreal has been mentioned as one of the clubs with interest, alongside the Islanders, which is no surprise given how hard it can be to find young scoring help without paying a premium.
The problem is the price tag and the type of return Columbus would actually require. Waddell has made it clear that any move would have to bring back a roster player who can help replace Marchenkos offense, and that is where the fit gets tricky for Montreal. Canadiens analyst Pierre McGuire has also expressed skepticism about whether the sides line up, saying he does not see a realistic match between what Columbus would want and what Montreal would be willing to part with. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Risk A Costly Distraction With Martin St. Louis Unsettled
Martin St. Louis has become one of the most important steadying forces in Montreal, and that matters even more now that the Canadiens are trying to turn their young core into a legitimate playoff group. His work behind the bench has been a big part of the development arc for key players, and the teams progress has made it harder to imagine the next step coming without some continuity at coach.
Still, the contract situation hanging over St. Louis adds a layer the Canadiens do not need as they try to keep moving forward. With a roster built around growth and internal belief, Montreal would be wise to settle the coaching picture before the next season becomes a backdrop for questions about his future. The Canadiens have enough to manage on the ice without letting uncertainty become part of the story around their bench. [Read more 🡒]