The modern NHL is a league of big men, more so than ever in the past. Finding a defenseman shorter than 6 feet tall is like trying to find free parking near the rink on game night, and many professional scouts won’t even look at a goaltender shorter than 6 feet 2 inches tall.

But while he was a star at the University of Wisconsin and now in his fifth NHL season with the Montreal Canadiens, it was small-time powerhouse Cole Caufield who made the game adapts to him, and not the other way around.

Caufield, just 23, has a dozen goals in 16 games for the Canadiens heading into Thursday night’s game against the Wild in St. Paul, and has found ways to survive and thrive at the highest level in the game, despite playing 5 feet. -8, 175 pounds in Montreal’s classic “blue, white and red” uniform.

“He’s a smart guy, he’s got good speed, he’s explosive and elusive at his size,” said Wild coach John Hynes, who coached Caufield at the World Championships in Europe last spring. “He’s competitive with the puck and he’ll play and be competitive against bigger players. And obviously, I think his offensive instincts go hand in hand with his shooting. He’s one of those guys that can find open areas or scoring areas where he can use his release.

Wild defenseman Brock Faber watched Caufield’s game up close as a college freshman, as Faber manned the Gophers’ blue line and Caufield was on the verge of winning the Hobey Baker Award for the Badgers. During the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, the Badgers barely edged out Minnesota for the Big Ten regular-season championship, as Caufield ran away with the scoring title and MVP honors.

They faced each other one final time in the Big Ten tournament title game, played in a nearly empty arena at Notre Dame due to pandemic restrictions. The Gophers took a 5-1 lead after two periods, only to see the Badgers fade, and Caufield’s goal – one of 30 he has scored this season – with just over two minutes remaining play cut the lead to 5-4, before Minnesota sealed it. the title with an empty net goal.

“When we played him, you literally had to do everything you could to keep him off the scoresheet, and you’d have a good chance of winning,” Faber recalled.

And not much has changed since Caufield set NHL career highs in games, goals, assists and points last season.

“He’s without a doubt one of the best scorers in the league,” Faber said. “It has all the tools you need to be successful.” It’s cool to see, but hopefully we can stop it on Thursday.

Three Wild regulars – defensemen Zach Bogosian and Jonas Brodin, as well as forward Marcus Johansson – missed the team’s practice Wednesday. With Bogosian out for personal reasons and Johansson battling an illness, Brodin needed a day of maintenance after the team’s recent three-game road trip.

Hynes said he expected Bogosian and Johansson to return to the lineup against Montreal, but he was less confident Brodin would be ready to go. The Wild recalled defenseman Daemon Hunt and forward Michael Milne from Iowa this week, and have a few bodies in reserve if needed.

Milne participated in the road trip last week, but has yet to make his NHL debut. After Wednesday’s practice, Milne said his family, who live near Vancouver, was ready to board an eastbound plane as soon as he learned he would be on the Wild roster.

“They’re still waiting, and as soon as I know I’ll definitely give them a call,” said Milne, who is wearing sweater number 60. “I’m just trying to work hard and see what happens from there.”