Cole Caufield would have played through his shoulder injury had the Montreal Canadiens been in contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the forward said Friday.
It was announced on Jan. 21 that Caufield would have season-ending surgery. The 22-year-old leads the Canadiens with 26 goals in 46 games this season and is second in points (36) behind center. Nick Suzuki (38 points; 16 goals, 22 assists).
“For sure, if we were in a playoff spot, I’d put it out of my mind, and I’d still be playing,” Caufield said. “I feel this is the best decision, long term. It’s hard to come to that conclusion, but like I said, it’s about the long term, and it’ll all work out.”
Montreal (20-25-4) is last in the eight-team Atlantic Division and 13 points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
“Going forward for me, I just want to feel 100 percent and obviously work as hard as I can to be out there as soon as possible but it’s all about being healthy and being the best out there for my teammates,” Caufield said.
Caufield said it was an injury he had been dealing with for a while.
“This happened the first time (on Dec. 23 in a 4-2 loss at the Dallas Stars), and I just had an awkward fall,” Caufield said. “I kind of put [the shoulder] back in myself a couple of seconds later and it wasn’t too bad.”
He said the same thing happened four games later in a 6-3 loss at the Nashville Predators on Jan. 3.
“That time was a little more painful, but our medical staff has done a great job of doing some rehab work on it and making me feel 100 percent,” Caufield said. “For me, I didn’t want to stop playing. I had a couple tests done to look at it more clearly but, in the end, one more fall and it could have been even worse, so the risk factor for that is hard to face
Caufield talked to Montreal forward Josh Andersonwho had surgery to repair a posterior labral tear of his left shoulder when he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 2, 2020.
“Anderson had it done by the same doctor (Dr. Peter Millett) that I’m getting it done by, so he’s come back (from the injury). I’ve had conversations with him the last couple of weeks,” Caufield said. . “Also, another guy that I’m pretty close with is (Blue Jackets defenseman) Zach Werenski. He got it done about eight weeks ago, so I’m pretty tight with him, and just to have guys I can communicate with, and they’ve gone through it recently, so a lot to learn and it’s good to have people around you. “
Selected by Montreal in the first round (No. 15) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Caufield has 84 points (53 goals, 31 assists) in 123 games over three NHL seasons.
On Jan. 19, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said the team wanted to sign Caufield to a long-term contract. Caufield can become a restricted free agent after this season.
“I think what’s most important is my health and being on the ice at 100 percent,” Caufield said. “[Montreal] knows the type of player I am. We’ve had talks for sure on where my game is at, but for me, for them, for my agent, it’s all about my health long term, and I think down the road it’ll all work out.
“I wouldn’t say the contract had anything to do with my decision to stop playing. I think it’s all about being healthy and trying to be 100 percent when I’m on the ice.”
Caufield had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2020-21, when Montreal lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final.
“I think watching is going to be pretty good for me from the top up,” Caufield said. “You can see a lot more things and I think it’ll be good for me to see that and talk to the coaches about what I saw, and I think down the road it’ll all work out for the best.”
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