In Arlington, V.A., Cole Caufield referenced a familiar phrase from older players he once accompanied to the Stanley Cup Final.
“You only get so many chances to do this,” he had remarked before the current first-round series. One can assume this sentiment is on his mind as the Montreal Canadiens head to Washington facing elimination, down 3-1 against the Capitals.
At 24, this marks only Caufield`s second time in the playoffs. For him and many of the younger members propelling the Canadiens through their rebuilding phase, the experience gained in this moment is immensely valuable.
Yet, Caufield and his younger teammates aren`t solely playing for personal experience or simply for themselves.
When Caufield was 20 in 2021, he was also motivated by playing for veterans running out of opportunities to win the Stanley Cup. This included Carey Price and Shea Weber, who never achieved that goal and wouldn`t get a comparable chance again. He also played for Eric Staal, hoping for one last shot, and Corey Perry, who has remarkably played on despite his age.
Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson were notable players in that 2021 group.
They were younger during that run and played crucial parts.
The subsequent years without playoff appearances have turned Anderson and Gallagher into the veteran figures the current generation, led by Caufield, is now playing for. Anderson and Gallagher dedicated key years guiding their younger peers through the demanding initial stages of this rebuild. This season, the Canadiens have prioritized acknowledging and repaying that dedication.
