CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The Penguins stocked up on power forwards in this summer's draft with Samuel Poulin, Nathan Legare and Judd Caulfield.
Fifth-round pick Caulfield, at 6-feet-3, 207 pounds, is the member of the Penguins' draft class with the most size.
"I'm a big guy," Caulfield told reporters on Day 2 of the Penguins' development camp. "So, I like to be physical when I can, and play down low in the gritty areas and take puck to the net when I can, and play well in the (defensive) zone too."
With six goals and 19 assists in 28 USHL games and six goals and five assists in 36 exhibition games last season with the U.S. National Team Development Program, Caulfield doesn't quite have the scoring touch of other members of his draft class. That'll be one of his biggest focuses when he plays for the University of North Dakota in the fall.
"I think I just need to work on my hands and my shooting ability," Caulfield said. "I'm just going to keep progressing as a player."
Most of Caulfield's goals last season weren't flashy plays that required the use of his own shooting ability, they were redirects down low like this goal in an exhibition game against Harvard:
This tip came in USHL play against the Chicago Steel:
Caulfield benefits from his long reach as well, as evidenced in this shorthanded goal in the game against Harvard where he uses his reach to bank the puck in off a Harvard player's skate
Caulfield said that he tries to model his game after that of Islanders captain Anders Lee.
"He's a big body like me," Caulfield said of Lee. "He's good in front of the net with tips and stickwork."
Although Caulfield may not have the greatest shooting ability himself, he's still able to contribute offensively by setting up teammates. He tends to not hang onto the puck very long when he does get it.
Caulfield exhibited many of his tendencies -- strong backchecking, being quick to pass the puck, a net-front presence -- in this goal in an exhibition game against the University of Minnesota. He works to force a Minnesota turnover in the U.S. zone, and has the puck passed to him as he skates up center ice. He quickly passes the puck off to Jack Hughes on his right side and drives straight to the front of the net to prepare for a redirect:
Caulfield's skating isn't necessarily a weakness, but it could improve. He has strong initial strides, but doesn't possess much pure foot speed once he gets going. Most players of his size don't have that speed either, though.
Given that Caulfield will only be a freshman in college for the 2019-20 season, he'll have much time to work on his hands and build up his speed before he ever turns pro.
