Let’s get one thing out of the way immediately, something that is an inherent truth and needs to be emphasized over everything else.



Cole Caufield is happy.



The Canadiens’ first-round pick from 2019 is happy to be returning to the University of Wisconsin for his sophomore season. He is happy to be teammates with his older brother, Brock, for another year. He is happy to take on more of a leadership role for the Badgers next season. He is happy to help lead a bounce back from an incredibly disappointing year for the team. He is happy to have another year to be a kid and a student and enjoy everything that comes with that.



And he is happy he will be playing for the Canadiens one day, even though he has to wait at least another year for that to happen.



“Looking back on it, another year of less games and trying to grow my body and stuff off the ice and just kind of being a kid for another year before your life changes, I’m really...