Badgers in the Bigs: Caufield among NHL goal leaders
November 18, 2024 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
Wisconsin alumni in the NHL off to a hot start
MADISON, Wis. – Through the first month of the 2024-25 NHL season, Wisconsin alumni in the league have been making a splash.
Montreal Canadians forward Cole Caufield is currently tied for the second most goals in the league with 12 in 18 games played (15 points total). He had a season-opening three-game point streak, scored four goals in the process, and had another four-goal, four-game point streak from Oct. 26-31.
The Stevens Point, Wisconsin, native most recently had a two-goal night in Montreal's 7-5 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 11.
Cole Caufield off to a great start this season
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 11, 2024
His 12 goals top the NHL. Today's winner was ridiculous.#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/OGUq1qM79n
Dylan Holloway and Ryan Suter, the pair of former Badgers playing for the St. Louis Blues, have also been off to a good start. Holloway, a forward, has four goals and eight points in 19 games played, while Suter, a defenseman, has one goal and four points in 19 games. Holloway's four goals are tied for third place on the roster, one tally behind the two leaders with five.
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 30, 2024
Craig Smith, a forward on the Chicago Blackhawks, has four goals and six points in 16 games played. His four goals are good to tie for fourth place on the Blackhawks' roster.
YES SIRRRRRRR pic.twitter.com/V09te4Gq5Z
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 2, 2024
Boston Bruins forward Trent Frederic has three goals and six points in 19 games played to rank eighth on the roster. He most recently had a two-goal game against the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 16, marking his first multi-point outing of the season.
TRENT FOR ✌️ pic.twitter.com/mxIZ7m8Ite
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 16, 2024
Forward Alex Turcotte has one goal and five points in 14 games played with the Los Angeles Kings, scoring his first goal of the season on Oct. 16 at Toronto. He was moved to the Kings' injured reserve list on Nov. 5 and reactivated on Nov. 16.
Let's get this party started pic.twitter.com/70KoT1vlZn
— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 17, 2024
Luke Kunin, a forward on the San Jose Sharks, has two goals and six assists in 19 games played.
We're still fighting. pic.twitter.com/eONCDHK7Z5
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 27, 2024
Former Badger defensemen have also been off to a strong start on the blue line.
The Dallas Stars' Brendan Smith has three assists in eight games played to rank fifth among defenseman on the team in assists. On Nov. 11, he skated in his 700th-career NHL game and notched two points against Pittsburgh.
"700 is pretty good."
— Stars On Victory+ (@StarsOnVictory) November 12, 2024
Brendan Smith celebrated his 700th career game in the NHL with a two-point night in Pittsburgh.
Full interview ➡️ https://t.co/KbUusykOj6 pic.twitter.com/W8lE4L86tH
Ryan McDonagh of the Tampa Bay Lightning has five assists in 16 games, good to tie for seventh on the roster. The alternate captain leads the team with a plus-11 rating.
His most recent assist came on Nov. 14 when the Lightning took on the Winnipeg Jets.
10/10 no notes 🤌 pic.twitter.com/CT1CF9bP1O
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 15, 2024
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe, who recently signed a five-year contract extension with the Leafs, has five assists in 19 games, and he ranks second on the roster with a plus-six rating.
TIMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMBELT! 🗣️🌲 pic.twitter.com/480Ufb7CvQ
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 10, 2024
K'Andre Miller has one goal and two points in 16 games played for the New York Rangers, and Ty Emberson has one assist in 16 games played with the Edmonton Oilers. His first point as an Oiler came on Nov. 9.
Kuly capitalizes 😎 #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/04IqDB2b3e
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 10, 2024
AHL and ECHL Updates
From AHL debuts to first professional points, Wisconsin has multiple alumni at the AHL and ECHL levels that have reached milestones in the first months of their seasons.
Forward and 2024 Wisconsin graduate Carson Bantle made his AHL debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, on Oct. 26. He's played three games with the Griffins, but has spent a majority of the year with the ECHL's Toledo Walleye, where he has five goals in eight games played.
A direct quote and photo from tonight's @Adventure_CU Player to Watch! #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/X85cT4dn2I
— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) October 26, 2024
Centerman David Silye has seven points in 13 games played with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers, picking up his first two professional points on Oct. 25. He scored his first two AHL goals in back-to-back games on Nov. 16 and 17 when the Wranglers took on the San Jose Barracuda in California.
First manned-net goal for Silye!! pic.twitter.com/H7GCcTVaTT
— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) November 17, 2024
In three games played for the ECHL's Iowa Heartlanders, Kyle McClellan, the 2024 Mike Richter Award winner for NCAA goaltender of the year, has two wins and a .885 save percentage.
Kyle McClellan today: pic.twitter.com/f9dhCgTYu2
— Iowa Heartlanders (@GoHeartlanders) November 3, 2024
Forward Mathieu De St. Phalle has four goals and 13 points in 12 games played for the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers. His 13 points leads the roster and his four goals are tied for second most on the team.
🚨 MATTY GETS US ON THE BOARD 🚨
— Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) October 27, 2024
Matty De St. Phalle scores on the Powerplay to cut the Royals lead to 2-1.
🚨 Matty De St. Phalle
🍎 Jordan Martel#ForgeTheFuture pic.twitter.com/4RsFKu0egF
Forward Roman Ahcan and defenseman Corson Ceulemans are teammates on the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ahcan leads the roster with seven goals (eight points total) in 15 games played this year, while Ceulemans has one goal and two points in 14 games played.
Ro made us get the protractors out for this one!!
— Cleveland Monsters (@monstershockey) November 4, 2024
🍎: Mateychuk pic.twitter.com/3XxmRiF0Qw
In nine games played for the ECHL's Reading Royals, forward Brock Caufield has one goal.
FINAL: REA 2 | TR 4
— Erik Jesberger (@ErikJesberger) October 31, 2024
• Brock Caufield (1) & Parker AuCoin (1) net 1st goals as Royals - both on PP (2/3)
• Gahagen: 32/36 svs (2-2-0)
• SOG: REA: 46 (most in game this season) TR: 36
• Royals fall to 4-2-0 - 4-game road-trip continues Friday in rematch w/ Trois-Rivières pic.twitter.com/Rz3wjgbpIS
