Badgers in the Bigs: Caufield reaches 40-goal milestone

MADISON, Wis. – Since the Olympic break, the National Hockey League is back in full force, with Cole Caufield recently reaching a major milestone.

On Tuesday, March 17, the Montreal Canadiens forward scored his 40th goal of the season, the game-winning tally in overtime versus Boston, becoming the third former Badger to reach the mark alongside Joe Pavelski and Dany Heatley.

His 40 goals rank him second in the NHL in that category, and he's the first Canadiens player since 1994 to score 40 times in a season.

Through 66 games played this year, Caufield has 40 goals and 68 points, and he sits third on the team in points while leading in goals.

Dany Heatley... Joe Pavelski... Cole Caufield

There's a new member of the NHL Badgers 40-goal club

Congrats Cole!!! pic.twitter.com/MNnXzVMuo6
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 18, 2026

After missing some time earlier in the season due to Injury, St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway netted his second-career NHL hat trick on Feb. 26 vs Seattle in his first game back from injured reserve.

In 44 games played this year, Holloway has 14 goals and 30 assists, ranking him fifth on the team in scoring.

BIIIIIGGG night for Dylan Holloway!

4-point night for the #Badgersinthebigs https://t.co/TJmPWK7szY
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) February 27, 2026

Defenseman Ty Emberson and forward Trent Frederic both skate for the Edmonton Oilers this year. In 60 games, Emberson has two goals and 12 points, while Frederic has four goals and six points in 66 games played.

More from #BadgersintheBigs

Ty Emberson 🤌 https://t.co/z8mgmoxbnN
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) February 27, 2026

Alex Turcotte, a forward on the L.A. Kings, has three goals and 14 points in 59 games.

Anže Kopitar (8) taps in Mikey Anderson's shot-pass on backdoor.

Assists:
Mikey Anderson (10)
Alex Turcotte (11)#GoKingsGo #Isles #NYIvsLAK pic.twitter.com/gvHcRzLxIS
— LA Royalty (@LARoyalty1967) March 13, 2026

Through 48 games this year, Florida Panthers forward Luke Kunin has two goals and five points.

Earning his spot on the nice list 🔥 pic.twitter.com/v2zlIkmsGD
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) December 24, 2025

Defenseman K'Andre Miller has four goals and 30 points in 58 games played for the Carolina Hurricanes to rank second among defensemen on the roster in scoring.

Big night last night for K'Andre Miller 🚨🚨🍎#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/rRNGpZjmI0
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 7, 2026

Also on the blue line are Ryan McDonagh and Jake McCabe. McDonagh, who plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning, has five goals and 12 points in 33 games, while McCabe, who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, has three goals and 20 points in 67 games.

Badger defenseman Ryan McDonagh banks one in off Badger defenseman Jake McCabe, with analysis by Badger defenseman Brian Engblom#BadgersintheBigs https://t.co/yve0WLeAYV
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 8, 2026

After signing a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in Nov. 2025, Brendan Smith appeared in 15 NHL games this year, recording two assists. In January, it was announced that defenseman Smith underwent successful knee surgery, placing him on injured reserve for three to four months.

UPDATE: #CBJ defenseman Brendan Smith underwent successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The recovery time is approximately three to four months.https://t.co/N81bFhO4mT
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) January 8, 2026

Wisconsin alumni at the AHL and ECHL levels have also had strong seasons.

There are currently two Badgers on the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets – defenseman Corson Ceulemans and forward Roman Ahcan.

Ceulemans has eight goals and 21 points in 52 games played to rank second among defensemen on the team, while Ahcan has 13 goals and 21 points in 52 games.

Ro with a LASER 🎯

🍎: McCue pic.twitter.com/7wG8qalaKI
— Cleveland Monsters (@monstershockey) March 7, 2026

Forward Ryland Mosley, who skated for the Monsters in the first half of the season, was recently traded to the Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. In eight games played with Cleveland, Mosley had one goal, and he's still waiting to make his debut with the IceHogs.

TRADE ALERT‼️

We've acquired forward Ryland Mosley today from the Cleveland Monsters in exchange for future considerations.

📰: https://t.co/qhIQQXSMl6 pic.twitter.com/LlZHNUEZkE
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) March 13, 2026

Cameron Hughes, a forward on the AHL's Texas Stars, affiliate of the Dallas Stars, leads the roster in scoring with 15 goals and 61 points in 57 games played

Back-to-back games with Hughesy opening the scoring!🚨 pic.twitter.com/NhKyTwfidg
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) March 18, 2026

Multiple other Badger forwards have been picking up points in the AHL. In Calgary, forward David Silye has one goal and five assists in 47 games played for the Wranglers. Forward Carson Bantle of the Grand Rapids Griffins has three goals and seven points in 49 games played.

BIG BOY BANTS 😤 pic.twitter.com/1qmYwmUMrZ
— x-Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) January 18, 2026

Mathieu De St. Phalle has two goals in 11 games played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, while splitting time with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers, where he has nine goals and 29 points in 41 games.

🚨: Matty De St Phalle
🍎: Craig Armstrong pic.twitter.com/vewZtjXSGb
— Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) March 15, 2026

Also in the ECHL, forward Owen Lindmark has four goals in 13 points in 24 ECHL games played for Tulsa after missing some of the season due to injury, while also skating in three games for the AHL's San Diego Gulls this year.

LINDMARK PUTS THE PUCK INTO THE EMPTY NET AND IT'S A SWEEP ON THE WEEKEND! 6-3 OILERS pic.twitter.com/8xYfqID8Rz
— Tulsa Oilers (@tulsa_oilers) March 1, 2026

Forward Cody Laskosky has seven goals and 13 points in 37 games played for the Indy Fuel, after tallying three goals and six points in 11 games for the Tahoe Knight Monsters to start the season before getting traded to Indy.

Cody Laskosky scores the game winner in OT!!!! Fuel win 2-1!!!!! https://t.co/nvV3q3YyD7 pic.twitter.com/C54S2EoBiQ
— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) March 8, 2026

Ryan Wagner, a forward on the Rapid City Rush, affiliate of the Calgary Flames, has 20 goals and 54 points in 58 games played to rank fifth in the league in scoring.

WAGS x2 pic.twitter.com/C5B6tdAyhb
— Rapid City Rush (@RapidCityRush) March 7, 2026

Recent Wisconsin graduate Daniel Laatsch, a defenseman on the Pittsburgh Penguins ECHL-affiliated Wheeling Nailers, has three goals and 11 points in 24 ECHL games played. He also played 10 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL, notching three assists.

LAATSCH GOES DANCIN' AND DANGLIN' 🕺 @WheelingNailers pic.twitter.com/xurwjzUqjk
— ECHL (@ECHL) February 28, 2026

On the Idaho Steelheads, affiliate of the Dallas Stars, is forward Ty Pelton-Byce, who has 10 goals and 32 points in 46 games played to rank sixth on the roster in scoring.

🚨PELTON-BYCE🚨
Hook, line, and sinker!! Ty makes it a 3-1 contest!!
🍏: Nevers, Jardine pic.twitter.com/ZiesGq89fN
— Idaho Steelheads (@Steelheads) March 7, 2026

Between the pipes in the ECHL are former Badgers goalies Kyle McClellan and Tommy Scarfone. McClellan had three wins in 12 games played for the Cincinnati Cyclones until he was traded to the Florida Everblades in March, where he earned his first win in his first start, allowing two goals and accumulating a .905 save percentage.

Jacksonville ice about to feel some heat tonight🔥 pic.twitter.com/joXBL1stPA
— Florida Everblades (@FL_Everblades) March 14, 2026

Scarfone, who along with McClellan made up an all-Badger goalie tandem in Cincinnati, has seven wins in 18 games played for the Cyclones, accumulating 3.59 goals-allowed on average and a .883 save percentage.