Has Caufield Proved He’s a Top 3 Sniper?

Has Caufield Proved He’s a Top 3 Sniper?
You don’t get called a sniper because you score—lots of guys score. You earn it because every time the puck hits your tape, the goalie flinches first. Cole Caufield has lived in that space since the moment he arrived: short runway, big detonation.

Over the past two seasons, he’s weathered a cold year where the puck wouldn’t listen, then came back dialing corners at a rate that puts him back in the argument. But arguments need proof.

So today we’re testing a bold claim: has Caufield actually proved he’s a top-3 sniper—or is he still knocking on that door from the top-5? We’re going to stack his shot volume against the league’s best, look at his finish versus expected, dig into the power-play ceiling, and line up his numbers next to the modern sharpshooters who own this era.

The answer’s not simple, and that’s why it’s fun. Stick around to the end—we’ll settle it.