How the Canadiens hiring of Martin St. Louis has impacted Co

Posted by seestyle on August 4th, 2022

Cole Caufield's season changed on Feb. 9. He may not have known the impact of that day then, but he certainly does now.

That is the day the Montreal Canadiens fired head coach Dominque Ducharme, who after leading the Habs to a Cinderella-run to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, had the Canadiens in last place in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens named former NHL star as the interim head coach that very same day.

St. Louis' impact on Caufield was immediate.

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After entering the year considered the as Rookie of the Brandon Kintzler Jersey Year, Caufield started the season goalle s in the first 10 games, recording just one a sist in that time. He was to the AHL's Laval Rocket at the beginning of November, only to be recalled later in the month. The rookie eventually found the back of the net in December but carried just one goal on the season into the month of February.

On Feb. 10, the first game with St. Louis at the helm, Caufield scored his second of the year. Then he scored again the next game, then potted two goals in his fourth game under St. Louis.

TO THE ROOF Now that's a backhand beauty from Cole Caufield!

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After registering just one goal and seven a sists in 30 games under Wilmer Difo Jersey Ducharme, Caufield has since lit up the scoresheet with the new hiring of St. Louis. The small winger has 12 goals and 11 a sists in his 19 games thus far with St. Louis at the helm.

He is looking more like the player the Canadiens saw at the end of last season, who recorded four goals in 10 regular-season games and 12 points in 20 postseason games after signing his entry-level contract with the Habs once his season at the University of Wisconsin concluded.

The No. 15 pick from the 2019 NHL Draft has built a trust system with St. Louis, who was coaching his son's Peewee hockey team before taking the Montreal job. Caufield after a Feb. 21 Daniel Hudson Jersey game where he had a goal and two a sists.

"I think (St. Louis) trusts me. Hes putting me out there in situations to succeed and Im playing with two great players too so that helps. He trusts my game and I think thats the biggest part for me. I just gotta keep playing the right way and itll keep going like that."

St. Louis' belief in Caufield has been evident in his increase in time on ice. Under Ducharme, the forward was averaging just 14:41 TOI, while St. Louis has played Caufield at least 16 minutes in all but four of the 19 games under St. Louis, Tanner Rainey Jersey including over 20 minutes in eight of them.

It's also helped that Caufield is than before. The shot attempts haven't changed much, Caufield always had one of the higher marks on that category even with Ducharme. But preceding the firing of Ducharme, the Canadiens rookie was averaging7.13 slot shots per 60 minutes. However, now hes generating 12.8 per 60, a mark that leads the team.

Here is a look at courtesy of Sportlogiq. This first one is before Feb. 9 under Ducharme, where you can see his shot selections primarily came from the left side.

In comparison, here is Caufield's shot selection under St. Louis, where it's evident that a majority of his attempts are coming closer to the slot, providing a higher chance at scoring.

You can see an example here, where Caufield holds onto the puck, moves into the slot and finds twine.

Cole a 13 points en 11 matchs 13th point in 11 games for Cole

Canadiens Montral (@CanadiensMTL)

St. Louis that as a young player, Caufield is bound to me s up from time to time. But it's a good thing to understand those errors and correct Kyle McGowin Jersey them early in your career, rather than sit a young budding star.

"Its just to reset (Caufield's) mental side. Hes playing free. He makes mistakes on the ice, of course. I also made mistakes on the ice. But he does many more good things than mistakes, so as a coach, you have to live with the mistakes as Anibal Sanchez Jersey long as the good things are there."

The Canadiens as a team have seen vast improvements since the hiring of St. Louis. After the change in coach, the team has gone 9-7-3, winning more games with St. Louis already in his short time with the team than with Ducharme this season.

The hope for a push to the playoffs is out of the picture. Despite the recent succe s, the Habs still find themselves in last in the league.

But St. Louis is setting the foundations for the future in Montreal. And a big part of that future lies with Caufield.