The 18-year-old forward prospect, selected with the No. 15 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, scored 72 goals in 64 games with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team last season, 38 more than center
Jack Hughes
, the NTDP's second-leading goal-scorer, who was chosen No. 1 by the New Jersey Devils.
"There's a lot of different ways to score goals these days and a lot of different ways to find pockets and beat the goalies," Caufield said during Canadiens development camp in June. "But for me, I think the best part of my goal-scoring ability is my brain, and I know where to be. I mean, sometimes I don't really have to put a puck in a spot where it has to beat the goalie, I just beat him to the spot. So there's a lot of different ways, but I think it's my brain and where I put myself on the ice, and I put myself in a good situation to put the puck in the back of the net.
"It's just getting lost and finding spaces where I think most people really can't."
Canadiens director of player development Rob Ramage marveled at Caufield's ability to get off his shot.
"It's quick," Ramage said. "You know, the elite scorers, he has that. You can name all the guys that scored 50-plus goals. Yeah, he's got that release."