Badgers in the NHL: Caufield starts season among league goal leaders
October 21, 2025 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
Alumni in the pros off to a hot start
MADISON, Wis. – The 2025-26 NHL season is officially underway, and many Badgers in the professional ranks are off to a great start.
Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield is already top 10 in the NHL in goals, tying for seventh with five goals in seven games played, including scoring electric game-tying and overtime-winning goals in Montreal's 3-2 win over the Predators on Oct. 16.
In addition to five goals, Caufield has three assists for a total of eight points, enough to rank second on the Canadiens roster.
Amazing finish from Cole Caufield last night#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/yAY2zuOOTA
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 17, 2025
The only team to start its season with multiple Badgers is the Edmonton Oilers. Defenseman Ty Emberson has two assists in six games played, while forward Trent Frederic has one goal in six games.
#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/u8e5YMMUNJ
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 15, 2025
To round out the forwards, Alex Turcotte of the Los Angeles Kings has one assist in six games, Luke Kunin of the Florida Panthers has one assist in seven games and Dylan Holloway of the St. Louis Blues has one goal in five games.
#BadgersintheBigs - Dylan Holloway https://t.co/3KtX8lhlyi
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 16, 2025
In six games played with his new team, the Carolina Hurricanes, after being traded there from the New York Rangers over the summer, defenseman K'Andre Miller has two goals and four points, tied for second among defensemen on the roster. Both of his goals so far came in the Hurricanes' season opener on Oct. 9.
The Key to victory 🔥 pic.twitter.com/c54vjJNNrq
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 10, 2025
Also on the blue line is the Tampa Bay Lightning's Ryan McDonagh, who has two goals and three points in six games played.
2️⃣7️⃣ evens the score! pic.twitter.com/6uSZ6yuvYv
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 18, 2025
Jake McCabe, a defenseman on the Toronto Maple Leafs, is tied for 10th in the league in plus-minus with a plus-six rating. In six games played, he has one goal and two points.
#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/FbdIiilqSq
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 15, 2025
Wisconsin alumni at the AHL and ECHL levels have also started their seasons.
There are currently four Badgers on the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets – defensemen Corson Ceulemans and Brendan Smith and forwards Ryland Mosley and Roman Ahcan.
Mosley reached a milestone recently, scoring his first professional goal in his third game of the season on Oct. 18.
Congrats, Mose! 👏 https://t.co/l1m8w47Joc
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 19, 2025
Ceulemans and Smith are still searching for their first points of the year, while Ahcan has an assist.
Forward Joseph LaBate of the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, has two goals and three points in four games played.
JOSEPH LABATE WITH THE REBOUND! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3e7nED9Hcx
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 18, 2025
Cameron Hughes, a forward on the AHL's Texas Stars, affiliate of the Dallas Stars, has two assists in four games played.
CONGRATS, SHLAINER!!! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/1HP57oGiS7
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) October 18, 2025
Multiple other AHL Badgers – Calgary Wranglers forward David Silye, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Matthieu de St. Phalle, Grand Rapids Griffins forward Carson Bantle, San Diego Gulls forward Owen Lindmark and Springfield Thunderbirds defenseman Anthony Kehrer – are still searching for their first point of the season.
Returning veteran David Silye shares what he is looking to focus on this season.
— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) October 9, 2025
"It's a new year, but building off where I started". pic.twitter.com/b0xp10Kcca
In the ECHL, forward Cody Laskosky of the Tahoe Knight Monsters, an affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, scored his first professional goal in his first professional game – Tahoe's first of the season. He has one goal in three games played.
WELCOME TO THE ECHL CODY LASKOSKY 🚨👏 https://t.co/t6NkVL35Tl pic.twitter.com/wsaqUwg08K
— Tahoe Knight Monsters (@Knight_monsters) October 18, 2025
Coming off his historic season for the Rapid City Rush, affiliate of the Calgary Flames, Ryan Wagner has two assists in two games played, tallying his 100th career ECHL point on Oct. 17. Wagner set the franchise mark last season with 50 assists and tied the top franchise mark with 79 points.
With his assist in the first period of the season opener against Kansas City, Ryan Wagner is now at 100 points in his @ECHL career!
— Rapid City Rush (@RapidCityRush) October 18, 2025
Let's go, Wags! pic.twitter.com/5ROCAnfyaH
Recent Wisconsin graduate Daniel Laatsch, a defenseman on the Wheeling Nailers, affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, had two assists in his first professional game.
How we're lining up for the season opener…#SteelTheMoment pic.twitter.com/SdGCtnsbHu
— Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) October 18, 2025
On the Idaho Steelheads, affiliate of the Dallas Stars, is forward Ty Pelton-Byce, who has one goal and two points in three games played.
🚨Ty Pelton-Byce knots the contest up once again, 3-3 on the power play!
— Idaho Steelheads (@Steelheads) October 19, 2025
🍏Anderson, Bergsland pic.twitter.com/I5rl22WYlK
