MONTREAL (AP) 鈥� Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield said Friday he wouldn't be having season-ending surgery on his right shoulder if the team were in playoff contention.
But with the Canadiens near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, the 22-year-old Caufield said he decided to have the surgery to protect his long-term health. The procedure is scheduled to be performed by Dr. Peter Millett on Wednesday.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to stop playing,鈥� Caufield said. 鈥淚 had a couple tests done to look at it more clearly but, in the end, like it could鈥檝e been one more fall and it could have been even worse.鈥�
Caufield, who leads the Canadiens with 26 goals in 46 games, had three different medical opinions on his shoulder before concluding that his season was over.
鈥淚 think they鈥檝e seen a lot more than I have and they know the differences and what they like or don鈥檛 like about it,鈥� he said about the medical opinions. 鈥淟ong term, I think this is what鈥檚 best but for sure it was tough to sit out that game against Toronto on Saturday night.鈥�
Caufield initially felt the injury in an awkward fall during Montreal鈥檚 4-2 loss at Dallas on Dec. 23. He said his right shoulder popped, and he replaced it himself.
Caufield felt it again in the Habs' 4-3 loss at Nashville on Jan. 12. The club announced on Jan. 21 that Caufield would miss the rest of the season.
Caufield is nearing the end of his three-year, entry level contract and will be a restricted free agent this summer.
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The Associated Press
