Who is Cole Caufield? Born in 2001 in Wisconsin, number 13 of the Canadiens, 51 goals in 2025-26, first Hab with 50 since Richer, signed at $7.85M per year.
Thirty-six years. That is how long Montreal waited between two 50-goal seasons. Stéphane Richer did it in 1989-90, and then nobody, through decades of rebuilds and false dawns, until a 5-foot-8 winger from Wisconsin put the puck in the net for the 50th time on April 9, 2026. His name is Cole Caufield, Montreal calls him "Mr. Saturday Night", and if you only know him from the highlights, here is who he really is.
- Born January 2, 2001, in Wisconsin, so 25 in October 2026
- Right winger, number 13 for the Montreal Canadiens, drafted 15th overall in 2019
- 51 goals and 88 points in 2025-26, the first Hab with 50 since Stéphane Richer in 1989-90
- Lady Byng Trophy and NHL Second All-Star Team in June 2026
- Signed through 2030-31: eight years, $62.8M, $7.85M per season
Who is Cole Caufield?
Cole Caufield grew up in a hockey family in central Wisconsin. His father Paul, born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is the all-time leading scorer at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and his older brother Brock also played for the Badgers. Cole was on skates at two years old. His father taught him to shoot right-handed, and that shot became his signature.
He is listed at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, small by NHL standards. It never slowed him down: with the U.S. National Team Development Program, he scored 72 goals in 2018-19, breaking Phil Kessel's all-time program record.
From Wisconsin to the Bell Centre
Montreal picked him 15th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. Instead of turning pro right away, he went back to the University of Wisconsin. In 2020-21 he led all of NCAA hockey with 30 goals and 52 points in 31 games and won the Hobey Baker Award, given to the best player in U.S. college hockey.
Days later, he was in Montreal. He made his NHL debut on April 26, 2021, scored his first goal on May 1, and then played 20 playoff games in the Canadiens' run to the Stanley Cup Final, with 12 points.
| Date | Moment | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| June 2019 | Drafted 15th overall by Montreal | First-round pick after a record USNTDP season |
| April 2021 | Hobey Baker Award | Best player in U.S. college hockey |
| Summer 2021 | Stanley Cup Final with Montreal | 12 points in 20 playoff games as a rookie |
| June 2023 | Eight-year, $62.8M extension | $7.85M per season, through 2030-31 |
| April 9, 2026 | 50th goal of the season | First Hab with 50 since Richer in 1989-90 |
| June 2026 | Lady Byng and Second All-Star Team | 51 goals with only 14 penalty minutes |
2025-26: the season of 51 goals
Everything clicked in 2025-26. Caufield finished with 51 goals, 37 assists and 88 points in 81 games, all career highs, with a +29 rating and a league-leading 12 game-winning goals. Only Nathan MacKinnon scored more goals that season.
The 50th came on April 9, 2026, against Tampa Bay. Before it, he refused to make it about himself.
In June, he won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team. Among the league's top 25 scorers, nobody spent less time in the penalty box: 14 minutes all season.
Why Montreal calls him Mr. Saturday Night
Saturday night at the Bell Centre is a ritual, and Caufield owns it. Since the start of 2024-25, he leads the NHL with 38 goals on Saturdays, and he has 66 career goals on that night alone. Asked why, he kept it simple.
He proved it again on Saturday, October 17, 2026: two goals against Buffalo, including the overtime winner, 54 seconds into three-on-three. Through nine games of 2026-27, he has 6 goals and 8 points.
Few athletes combine his numbers, his clean image and his everyday connection with fans. When three supporters ran into him and Noah Dobson at a pub in Old Montreal in October 2026, the photo was in the Quebec entertainment press the next day. For brands, that is the definition of reach: a player people want to see off the ice as much as on it.
Off the ice: number 13 and a tribute
Caufield wore 22 for his first seasons in Montreal. In September 2024, he switched to 13 in honour of Johnny Gaudreau, the American star who died that summer and who wore the number throughout his career. It is still on his back today.
Want more on the Habs? Read everything about the 2026-27 Canadiens season, and how Quebec creators turn hockey into content in our Lewis vs Primeau coverage.
So, who is Cole Caufield? A small winger with a huge shot who ended a 36-year wait, plays cleaner than almost anyone in the league, and turns every Saturday night into his own show. Are you a brand looking to reach hockey fans? Talk to One Way.
Cole Caufield: your questions
How old is Cole Caufield?+
Cole Caufield was born on January 2, 2001. He is 25 in October 2026.
Where is Cole Caufield from?+
He is from central Wisconsin, in the United States. The NHL lists him as a native of Mosinee, Wisconsin.
How tall is Cole Caufield?+
He is listed at 5-foot-8 (173 cm) and 175 pounds (79 kg).
How many goals did Cole Caufield score in 2025-26?+
51 goals and 88 points in 81 games. He was the first Canadiens player to reach 50 goals since Stéphane Richer in 1989-90.
What is Cole Caufield's contract?+
An eight-year, $62.8 million contract signed in June 2023, worth $7.85 million per season through 2030-31.
Why does Cole Caufield wear number 13?+
He switched from 22 to 13 in September 2024 to honour Johnny Gaudreau, who died that summer.
Why is he called Mr. Saturday Night?+
Because of his scoring on Saturdays: since the start of 2024-25, he leads the NHL with 38 goals on Saturday nights.
Is it Cole Caufield or Cole Cofield?+
The correct spelling is Cole Caufield. "Cole Cofield" is a common misspelling of his name.
Sources: NHL.com, Second All-Star Team, TSN, 49 goals, TSN, Saturday night, NHL.com, SJS@MTL, Hockey Reference, Wikipedia, Instagram (@colecaufield).
