NHL Player of the Month: Cole Caufield
Cole Caufield wasn’t playing at his usual level in December, outscored by two teammates after only scoring five goals of his own. On January 2, he found out that he hadn’t been named to the U.S. National Men’s Team for the Olympics, and, like Michael Jordan, he took that personally.
Caufield couldn’t be stopped in the first month of 2026, and with more game days than off days to kick off the new year, that resulted in 13 goals through 16 games played, leading the entire NHL. Three of those goals were game-winners, bringing his season total to a career-high-tying eight with 27 games still to be played.
The next three players on the monthly scoring list — Brock Nelson, Mika Zibanejad, and Auston Matthews — finished with negative goal differentials, but Caufield’s stellar play wasn’t just limited to his finishing ability. He had a goal differential of +11 in January, increasing his season mark to +20.
This is now the third time in four months Caufield has claimed this honour, with clutch goal-scoring being a major reason why the Habs place among the top seven teams in the NHL with two-thirds of the campaign played. The management staff of Team USA may not see his value, but he’s an undeniable force for the Canadiens as they speed out of a short rebuild phase.
Honourable mention: Nick Suzuki
As Caufield’s regained his scoring touch, Nick Suzuki was once again piling up points, ending with 20, and scoring five goals of his own. A lot of his offence has come on the power play, but that makes a +13 goal differential in January and now a +26 on the season more impressive. Despite playing 231 minutes at five-on-five in the 16 games, he was only on the ice for four goals against. When you consider the struggles the Canadiens were having in net until Jakub Dobeš locked things down in the final week or so, that is a remarkable feat.
Suzuki will spend most of February in Italy playing in his first Olympics with Team Canada. He’s hit a high level before joining the national team, and can use his 200-foot play to be a significant factor for the team in its quest for gold.
— Justin Blades
AHL Player of the Month: Adam Engström
While all eyes have been on Lane Hutson in Montreal, the Canadiens have been quietly getting an incredible season from Adam Engström in Laval, one that culminated in his NHL games in December. While it was not a permanent stay for the Swedish defenceman, Engström took plenty from his NHL stint and returned to the AHL with a mission.
In 35 fewer games this year, Engström is just one point off his total production from his rookie season, and thanks to a four-game goal-scoring streak he has doubled his goal output already. His offensive production is driving the bus for the Rocket as they continue to try to secure a second straight North Division title. He’s doing everything in his power to establish himself as one of the AHL’s very best blue-liners.
Adam Engstrom wins it for Laval in OTpic.twitter.com/qNT5E4lmzu
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) January 31, 2026
While sitting sixth in overall scoring among defencemen, Engström has one edge on some of the names in front of him. Most of his production is coming at even strength whereas players like Zac Jones (22 power-play assists) and Ryan Ufko (16 PP assists) are bolstering their numbers primarily on special teams.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Engström’s game since returning from the NHL is that he seemingly reads the game in all three zones on a different level than most of his teammates. He’s up in the rush, but never out of position heading back to defend, and he’s the quickest guy to move the puck out of the zone.
This was a very easy choice this month. Without Engström, the Rocket would very likely be sitting third or fourth in the division. He continues to be instrumental in crucial moments every single game.
— Scott Matla
European Prospect of the Month: Rasmus Bergqvist
Just as the 2025 calendar year ended, Rasmus Bergqvist got his first assist of the season. The new year has started in a much better way with three assists in eight games. However, it is the defence that is Bergqvist’s bread and butter. It helps that he plays limited minutes on one of the top teams, and one of the top organizations in general, in the SHL, but his +6 rating over January is very good.
Bergqvist isn’t flashy, he isn’t the headline-grabbing player who skates end to end. His hockey IQ is solid, but his understanding of the role he has is perfect. He looks a lot bigger out on the ice, and has the mean streak to make use of it.
As was seen in the World Juniors last year, he has some offence in him. He has had a few chances when joining the offensive play and his points totals should probably be higher. It seems to be a confidence issue, or just a lack of experience in those situations that keeps the goals from happening.
With limited minutes but overall stellar play, he beats Alexander Zharovsky for prospect of the month as the forward has stagnated in what one must think is the full season taking its toll on the Russian rookie.
— Patrik Bexell
North American Prospect of the Month: Michael Hage
After winning the bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2026 World Junior Championship and continuing his impressive scoring pace at the University of Michigan, Michael Hage earns the honours for the month of February.
Hage’s tournament-leading 15 points at the World Juniors put him ahead of elite competition, even internally; Gavin McKenna, his linemate for most of the tournament, fell one point short of the Habs’ 21st-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Seven of his points came in the elimination round, including a four-assist performance in the Bronze Medal Game against Finland. While his return to Michigan didn’t see him light it up, with seven points in six matches, he remains the team’s offensive focal point and a key part of their undefeated run in January.
Hage’s game is progressing in key areas for his future in the NHL, and his goal-scoring output has increased as a direct result of his scoring habits. The centre is expanding on his half-wall, off-the-catch play, becoming much more potent as a one-timer threat while using that asset to subvert defencemen’s expectations, get them to overcommit, and open up a passing lane.
While Hage’s positioning in all three zones is seeing some improvement, his ability to work through contact, separate from the NCAA’s more competent shutdown presences along the boards, and get off the wall when cycling the puck are still key areas of progression that’ll need to take a step in order to help him be a strong offensive creator in the NHL. Luckily, these areas are Adam Nicholas’s bread and butter when it comes to player development. Hage will be in a great position to improve his contact game with the Habs’ Director of Player Development at the helm, perhaps as soon as this spring.
— Hadi Kalakeche
PWHL Player of the Month: Ann-Renée Desbiens
For the second time this season, Ann-Renée Desbiens is the Victoire player of the month, and this time it wasn’t even that close. Yes, Marie-Philip Poulin had five goals and three assists in eight January games, but that just speaks to how dominant Desbiens was.
She started seven of the team’s eight games and went 6-1 with a goals-against average of 0.99 and a .957 save percentage and two shutouts. In 14 starts this season, she has yet to allow more than two goals and has allowed one or less in eight of them.
The Victoire have prided themselves on their defensive play so far this season. They have allowed the fewest goals of any team in the league as we start the Olympic break. A big part of the style they play is Desbiens being able to make the saves, but Montreal has allowed the fewest expected goals per game as well. When you don’t allow a ton of great scoring chances and you have a goaltender like Desbiens, it’s a recipe for success.
Both her Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie and her Canadian head coach Troy Ryan say that this is as locked in as they have seen her, and Canada may need her to be as they face a big challenge in the Americans in Italy. The 2024-25 PWHL Goaltender of the Year is looking like the favourite to retain her title this season.
— Jared Book
Jared Book and Patrik Bexell discuss the winners in the latest episode of Habsent Minded
