Canadiens' top prospect Caufield wins Hobey Baker Award

Montreal Canadiens top prospect Cole Caufield is the 2020-21 recipient of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which is handed out annually to the NCAA's top men's hockey player.

Caufield edged out Minnesota State-Mankato goaltender Dryden McKay and North Dakota forward Shane Pinto for the honor. Caufield led the nation by a wide margin with 30 goals and also topped all Division I skaters with 52 points over 31 games as a sophomore with Wisconsin this season.

The 20-year-old became the first player in the Big Ten hockey conference's eight-year history to win back-to-back scoring titles while also being named the Big Ten player of the year for 2020-21.

Montreal signed Caufield to a three-year, entry-level contract in late March before assigning him to the AHL's Laval Rocket. The Canadiens drafted him with the 15th overall pick in 2019.

Bemidji State upset Caufield's fourth-ranked Badgers in the opening round of the ongoing NCAA tournament.