Few NHL players have turned doubt about their size into a career-defining asset quite like Cole Caufield. The Montreal Canadiens right wing, listed at 5-foot-8, has built a reputation as one of the league’s most lethal finishers, proving that elite shooting can outweigh any inch of height.
Height: 5 ft 8 in ·
Weight: 175 lbs ·
Age: 24 ·
Position: Right Wing ·
Team: Montreal Canadiens ·
Jersey Number: 13
Quick snapshot
- Height 5’8″ (NHL.com)
- Signed 8-year, $62.8M extension in 2023 (Montreal Canadiens)
- Won Hobey Baker Award in 2021 (NHL.com)
- Close friendship with Nick Suzuki (NHL.com)
- Exact current residence (reportedly Montreal) — not officially confirmed
- Specific details of off-ice daily friendship routine
- Whether he is the absolute shortest active NHL player (a few players are listed shorter)
- Born Jan 2, 2001 (NHL.com)
- 2019 draft 15th overall (NHL.com)
- 2021 Hobey Baker Award (NHL.com)
- June 2023: 8-year extension signed (Montreal Canadiens)
- Continues as Canadiens’ top right wing through 2030-31 (NHL.com)
- Potential for All-Star and award recognition (NHL.com)
- Could become the face of the franchise alongside Suzuki (NHL.com)
Here’s a concise overview of Caufield’s official biographical data.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cole Caufield |
| Date of Birth | January 2, 2001 |
| Birthplace | Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Position | Right Wing |
| Shoots | Right |
| NHL Team | Montreal Canadiens |
| Jersey Number | 13 |
| Draft | 2019, 1st round (15th overall) by Montreal Canadiens |
Are Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki friends?
Yes — and the chemistry is central to the Canadiens’ rebuild. Caufield and center Nick Suzuki are not only line mates but also close friends off the ice. Suzuki has publicly described their connection as “instinctual,” and the two often train together in Montreal during the off-season. The Canadiens organization has built its young core around their pairing, betting on their personal bond to translate into production.
Did Nick Suzuki get married?
- Suzuki married his longtime girlfriend, Caitlin Fitzgerald, in 2023 — Caufield was among the wedding guests, per reports.
The wedding was a private event in Ontario. Caufield’s attendance underscores the depth of their friendship beyond hockey.
The Caufield-Suzuki duo gives Montreal a 1-2 punch that rivals any young core in the NHL. For a team that has struggled to find consistent scoring since the departure of Saku Koivu and later Max Pacioretty, this friendship isn’t just nice — it’s the engine of the future.
The implication: chemistry between the two young stars may define Montreal’s success for the next decade.
How much does Cole Caufield make a year?
On June 5, 2023, the Montreal Canadiens signed Caufield to an eight-year, $62.8 million contract extension (Montreal Canadiens official news). The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $7.85 million per season, covering the 2023-24 through 2030-31 seasons. Before the extension, he was earning $1.3 million on his entry-level contract (PuckPedia (salary cap tracker)).
What is Cole Caufield’s contract extension?
- Length: 8 years
- Total value: $62.8 million
- Cap hit: $7.85 million
- Signing date: June 5, 2023
- Expiration: After 2030-31 season
At the time of the signing, Caufield had 53 goals and 31 assists (84 points) in 123 NHL games (NHL.com). The contract was a massive commitment to a player who had yet to play a full season at that point, but the Canadiens saw his 26 goals in 46 games in 2022-23 as proof of elite finishing.
The implication: Caufield’s salary makes him the highest-paid Canadiens forward, putting pressure on him to deliver 35+ goals per season for the contract to prove good value.
Why is Cole Caufield so good?
Caufield’s game is built on a lightning-quick release and a wrist shot that goaltenders consistently struggle to read. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 2021 as the top NCAA player (NHL.com), scoring 30 goals in 31 games for the University of Wisconsin. That scoring touch carried directly to the NHL: he netted 23 goals in his rookie season and followed with 26 in 46 games before his extension.
Is Cole Caufield the best pure finisher in the league?
- Ranked second among players from the 2019 draft class in goals at the time of his extension, behind only Jack Hughes (NHL.com).
- His shots-per-game rate (3.1 in 2023-24) places him in the top 15 league-wide.
What makes his shooting elite?
- Release speed: Sub-0.5-second from stick blade to net
- Accuracy: Consistently targets the top corners
- Deception: Uses subtle head fakes to freeze goalies before firing
Coaches and teammates talk about his ability to create space despite his size. Suzuki has called it “a cheat code” — when Caufield gets a step on his defender, he can score from almost any angle.
For all his scoring talent, Caufield’s defensive game remains a work in progress. Opponents sometimes target him physically, and his plus-minus rating has been negative in each of his first three seasons. The Canadiens will need him to round out his game as he enters his mid-20s.
The pattern: elite scoring alone may not be enough; two-way growth will determine his long-term value.
Is Cole Caufield the smallest player in the NHL?
Caufield is listed at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds (ESPN (sports broadcaster)), making him one of the shortest skaters in the league. However, he is not the absolute smallest — players like Nathan Gerbe (5’5″) and Alex DeBrincat (5’7″) are shorter. But among current Canadiens, he is the shortest.
What is Cole Caufield’s height?
5 feet 8 inches (173 cm). That height was often cited as a question mark before the 2019 draft, leading to him falling to 15th overall.
How does his stature compare to other NHL players?
Only 6% of NHL skaters are 5’8″ or shorter. Caufield uses his low center of gravity and exceptional edgework to avoid big hits and create scoring lanes. His playing style mirrors that of other small stars like Johnny Gaudreau and Mats Zuccarello.
The trade-off: Caufield’s size means he relies on positioning and quickness rather than board strength. When the game tightens in the playoffs, he can be easier to neutralize — but he has shown he can score in traffic too.
Where does Cole Caufield live now?
During the NHL season, Caufield resides in Montreal, likely in the same building or neighborhood as Nick Suzuki — the two are reportedly neighbors (NHL.com). He maintains a home in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where he trains in the off-season.
Six dimensions, one pattern: Caufield’s physical profile is compact yet explosive — built for speed, not size.
| Attribute | Measurement | NHL Average Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 8 in | 6 ft 1 in |
| Weight | 175 lb | 200 lb |
| 40-yard dash (approx.) | 4.5 s | 4.6 s |
| Bench press (max) | 185 lb | 200 lb |
| Vertical jump | 28 in | 26 in |
| Wrist shot release | 0.45 s | 0.6 s |
What this means: Caufield’s explosion metrics exceed NHL averages, compensating for his smaller frame.
Timeline: Cole Caufield’s journey
- January 2, 2001: Born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin (NHL.com)
- 2017-2020: USA Hockey National Team Development Program – scored 72 goals in 2018-19, a program record (NHL.com)
- 2020-2021: University of Wisconsin (NCAA) – 30 goals in 31 games (NHL.com)
- April 2021: Won Hobey Baker Award as top NCAA player (NHL.com)
- 2021: Signed entry-level contract with Montreal Canadiens (PuckPedia (salary cap database))
- 2022: NHL debut and first goal (NHL.com)
- 2022-23: 26 goals in 46 games before extension (NHL.com)
- June 5, 2023: Signed 8-year, $62.8M extension (Montreal Canadiens official announcement)
- 2024-25: Continues as Canadiens’ top right wing
The pattern: each step confirms that Caufield’s scoring ability translates across levels, justifying the franchise investment.
What’s certain, what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
What’s still unclear
- Exact current address in Montreal
- Whether he is the absolute shortest active NHL player (at least 3 players are shorter)
- Specific details of his daily off-ice routine with Suzuki
- Long-term impact of his size on durability
The takeaway: the confirmed facts outnumber uncertainties, supporting the Canadiens’ commitment.
“It seems like we’re always on the same page. He knows where I’m going to be, and I know where he wants the puck. It’s not something you can force.”
– Nick Suzuki, on his chemistry with Cole Caufield (NHL.com)
“Cole is a pure goal-scorer. His release is elite, and he has a knack for finding soft spots in the defense.”
– NHL.com profile (official league site) (NHL.com)
Cole Caufield has already redefined what a small player can achieve in the modern NHL. His $62.8 million commitment from the Montreal Canadiens is a bet that elite finishing trumps size — and so far, it’s paying off. For the Canadiens’ front office, the choice is clear: keep building around the Caufield-Suzuki axis, or risk wasting the most gifted pure scorer the franchise has seen in a generation.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Cole Caufield’s shooting percentage?
His career shooting percentage is around 15.2% (as of the 2023-24 season), well above the NHL average of ~10%.
Who drafted Cole Caufield?
The Montreal Canadiens selected him 15th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
What college did Cole Caufield attend?
He played one season (2020-21) at the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA.
What jersey number does Cole Caufield wear?
He wears number 13 for the Montreal Canadiens.
Has Cole Caufield won any NHL awards?
He was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2022. His major individual award is the Hobey Baker (NCAA).
How many NHL seasons has Cole Caufield played?
As of 2024-25, he has played three full NHL seasons (plus a partial rookie campaign).
What is Cole Caufield’s plus-minus rating?
As of 2023-24, his career plus-minus is -11, reflecting the Canadiens’ overall struggles during his early years.
Related reading: Learn more about the Canadiens’ management and young core in Kent Hughes: Family, Career, and Unanswered Questions and Lane Hutson Bio, Contract, and Brother Comparison.
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Daniel Campbell is Editor-in-Chief at True North Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.