Jets Gifted With Cole Perfetti at 10th Overall

The Winnipeg Jets have finally found their true second-line centre. After back-to-back seasons (2017-18, 2018-19) featuring trade deadline day deals that saw GM Kevin Cheveldayoff trade away a first-round pick and a promising prospect in exchange for a rental (Paul Stastny, Kevin Hayes), the club has taken a different approach.

On Tuesday, October 6, at roughly 7:30 PM local time, forward Cole Perfetti became the newest member of the Winnipeg Jets, immediately putting himself into contention for the high-coveted second-line centreman position.

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“It was an amazing feeling,” Perfetti told reporters following his selection. “It was something I’ve worked for my entire life, so to hear my name be called with all of my friends and family in attendance, it was a surreal moment and something that I’ll never forget.”

“I prefer centre,” he added shortly after. “I think I’m a better centre and can make more of an impact there. But at the end of the day I’ve played wing and centre my entire life, so whatever Paul Maurice wants, I’ll be excited to do so.”

In picking 10th overall, the Jets selected the 5-foot-11, 180-pound forward out of the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit, where he put up 74 goals and 185 points over 124 games in 2018-19 and 2019-20 combined. Last season saw the speedy left-shooting centreman produce 37 goals and 111 points in just 61 games – something he wants to be able to continue doing in Manitoba.

“The roster is pretty impressive,” Perfetti said of the Jets. “There’s a lot of great guys you can play with up and down the lineup. It would be a lot of fun. Whether you’re playing with Scheifele or Copp or Wheeler or Laine for that matter, there’s so many great players. To even be able to think about playing with those guys gives me goosebumps. It’ll be a lot of fun. I think we’ll work well together. I think at the next level my hockey IQ and playmaking ability will help me and allow me to make an impact and adapt and play with a lot of different players.”

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic cancelling last year’s running of the OHL postseason, Perfetti’s only playoff numbers came from the 2018-19 season. He produced at nearly a point-per-game, finishing with eight goals and 14 points in 16 playoff games.

“I am a kid that’s pretty eager and pretty hungry to make the jump,” he said. “I’m going to come in with a chip on my shoulder and I’m going to try and make an impact as soon as I can. They’re going to get a 200-foot player and definitely a guy that uses his brain and hockey IQ in the offensive zone, who has that ability to score from my shot and in tight, kind of that duel threat. It’s my hockey IQ and playmkaing ability that makes me who I am.”

Being selected 10th overall would typically be a cause for celebration. Of course Perfetti is thrilled to be a member of the Jets, but he hasn’t forgotten about the other eight NHL clubs that passed him over Tuesday evening.

“I’m ecstatic to be a Winnipeg Jet, but there were nine other teams that passed on me,” he said in spite. “I’m going to come in trying to prove myself. At the end of the day I want to be the best player this draft and leave a legacy. I think it’s going to be by coming in with a chip on my shoulder, playing hungry and hard and establishing that I can make an impact at the next level. It’s going to be important for me to do that right away. I definitely want to prove everyone wrong that passed on me. I’m excited to be a Jet and I think I’m going to have a great career there. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“It was definitely a nerve-wracking moment,” Perfetti continued. “You work so hard your entire life for this moment, you just want to be picked and you want to go to an organization that will give you an opportunity, that cares for you, that wants you there. So, I think the Jets is a great pick and a great spot for me, and I can’t wait to get there and get going. But it was definitely the longest hour-and-a-half of my life but the best hour-and-a-half of my life. I’ll never forget it.”

With the draft now having been checked off his mental list, Perfetti will continue with his sharp focus on preparation for the 2020-21 season – wherever it is he will be playing. Despite the global pandemic, the 18-year-old has been able to stay in shape through various facilities in his hometown.

“I’ve actually been fortunate enough because skating has been no problem here in Whitby,” he said. “Lots of rinks are open now, they opened up in late May, early June. I’ve been skating for three, four months now and the gym has been open for seven months. I’ve been going in there every day and really developing that way. I’ve had a great year and I’m really hopeful to see how my stride and my skating mechanics and getting stronger and bigger and faster in the gym. It’s been a great year. I’ve really been able to keep up with my training and conditioning and everything like that. I’m fortunate enough that I live in an area where the workouts and the skating are easy to find. I’ve been able to do that every day and really take care of my body and make major strides this summer.”