Ottawa Senators forward prospect
Shane Pinto
of the University of North Dakota and goalie Dryden McKay of Minnesota State University are the other finalists for the award, presented annually to the player voted the best in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey. The winner will be announced Friday (6 p.m. ET; NHLN).
Caufield completed his second season at the University of Wisconsin. He was selected by the Canadiens with the No. 15 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Montreal on March 27. He will make his professiona debut for Laval of the American Hockey League on Friday.
The 20-year-old led the NCAA in goals (30), points (52), power-play goals (11), power-play points (24) and shots on goal (165), and was named Big Ten Player of the Year . Caufield scored 88 points (49 goals, 39 assists) in 67 games in his two college seasons.
Pinto, selected by the Senators in the second round (No. 32) of the 2019 draft, was third among National Collegiate Hockey Conference players with 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 28 games. The 20-year-old was named NCHC Player of the Year and was the first player in conference history to be named Forward of the Year and Defensive Forward of the Year. He led NCHC players with a 61.9 percent face-off winning percentage and 388 face-off wins, and tied for the lead with seven power-play goals. He signed an entry-level contract with Ottawa on April 1 and will report to the Senators following a required quarantine period.
McKay is 21-4-0 with a 1.54 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in 26 games, with an NCAA-best 10 shutouts. He has 24 shutouts in his three college seasons, second in NCAA history behind Ryan Miller of Michigan State (26). The junior was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association Goalie of the Year for the second consecutive season.
The 23-year-old is undrafted and eligible to sign with any NHL team now that his season ended Thursday in a 5-4 loss to St. Cloud State at the NCAA Frozen Four.
The three Hobey Baker Award finalists were selected from a list of 10 candidates nominated by the 30-member selection committee and an additional round of online fan balloting. Criteria for the award includes a display of outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship, and scholastic achievements.
The 41st Hobey Baker Award ceremony will include the announcements of the Hockey Humanitarian Award; the East and West All-American Teams; and the Mike Richter Award, given to the nation's top NCAA Division I men's ice hockey goalie.
Previous winners of the award include St. Louis Blues defenseman
Scott Perunovich
(2020), Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (2019), Vancouver Canucks forwards
Adam Gaudette
(2018) and Jimmy Vesey (2016), New Jersey Devils defenseman Will Butcher (2017), Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel (2015) and Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau (2014).
