One Martin St-Louis decision could cost Cole Caufield the Maurice Richard Trophy

Mar 23, 2026 (8:50 PM)

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Cole Caufield and Martin St-Louis are driving a breakout season, but one late-game decision could cost him the Maurice-Richard Trophy.

Let's call it straight. The Canadiens sniper is charging toward the 50-goal mark. That's elite territory for the 2019 first-round pick.

At 25, Caufield is playing his best hockey. He has 43 goals in 68 games and looks dangerous every time he touches the puck.

But the wildest part? It's how he's getting them.

Anthony Martineau pointed out a stat that jumps off the page. Caufield has zero empty-net goals this season.

It goes deeper. He has never scored into an empty net over his NHL career.

That's not random. That's usage. Martin St-Louis barely sends Caufield out in the final minutes when protecting a lead.

The logic is clear inside the locker room. At 5-foot-8, Caufield isn't your first option to block shots or win board battles late.

Still, that decision has real consequences.

Look at the top of the goal race. Nathan MacKinnon sits at 45 goals right now.

Five of those came into an empty net.

Take those away, and Caufield isn't chasing. He's leading.

That's where frustration creeps in. Not because of effort. Not because of finishing. But because of deployment.

Caufield has done his damage the hard way, beating goaltenders clean. His 43 goals against set goalies lead the league.

And he's not padding numbers on the power play either. Just 10 goals with the man advantage since October.

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That means most of his production comes at even strength, shift after shift, against top defenders.

For a player many questioned at five-on-five, that's a loud response.

Now the pressure shifts to the bench. Does St-Louis stick to his defensive instincts, or does he give his scorer a shot late in games?

Because one empty-net look here or there could swing the entire race.

And in Montreal, losing that trophy over a coaching decision wouldn't sit well.

Previously on Puck Reporter

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3 HOURS AGO\|4 ANSWERS One Martin St-Louis decision could cost Cole Caufield the Maurice Richard Trophy Should Martin St-Louis use Cole Caufield late in games for empty nets ?
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