Following a frustrating year, Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti is ready to try to help get his team back to the playoffs.
The 24-year-old signed a five-year extension with the Winnipeg Jets last Wednesday with an average annual value of $6 million. According to the Whitby, Ont. native, there was never a doubt about wanting to continue being a Jet.
“Me and my family love it there,” said Perfetti while speaking to media via Zoom on Monday. “We love being in Winnipeg, being in Canada, being a part of the organization. We love Winnipeg as a city. We really found a nice home there and we feel comfortable, so I think that’s ultimately a really big part of it.”
Perfetti sustained a high-ankle sprain toward the end of the pre-season last year. He missed the first month of the regular season, not making his debut until Nov. 9 against the Anaheim Ducks.
“It’s a completely different mindset, different approaches,” said Perfetti. “Last year, coming into it, obviously being a younger guy, still a contract year, you want to play really well. And then to have to deal with the injury and never really get your feet under you and not feel super great, you know, for a while throughout the season, it was frustrating.”
From an outside perspective, 12 goals and 20 assists in 68 games this past season doesn’t seem like the type of production that would earn a player the type of contract Perfetti just signed, but it doesn’t tell the full story.
Before Christmas, he had two goals and five assists in 21 games. After Christmas, when he felt he was in a better place physically, he had 10 goals and 15 assists in 47 games.
“I expect a lot for myself on the ice this year,” said Perfetti. “Every year, the goal is to just get a little bit better, be more valuable to the team and help the team win in more ways.
“That’s my expectation, to take another big leap, another step, and you know, the management obviously put that faith in me, so now it’s my turn to go out there and play and live up to those expectations.”
Perfetti was drafted 10th overall by Winnipeg in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Since then, the forward has 59 goals and 98 assists in 290 games with the Jets, highlighted by one of the most memorable moments in franchise history – a game-tying goal, dubbed the “Manitoba Miracle,” with 1.6 seconds remaining in the third period of Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Perfetti was the first to admit he didn’t feel 100 per cent health-wise when he started last season. The recovery from the ankle injury was much longer than he realized it would be, both mentally and physically. This summer, he’s in a much better place in both areas.
“Overall, the body and the mind are in a great spot,” said Perfetti. “Obviously now being here for five years and kind of knowing what the future looks like, it’s really settling and just, you know, at ease a lot more.”
The timing of the new contract couldn’t have been better for a few different reasons. First, the Jets forward was in the car with his parents when he got the call.
“It was actually with my mom and dad,” said Perfetti. “We were driving up to the lake… It was awesome having my parents there, being able to be with them right away was awesome and yeah, I’ll never forget that day, for sure.
“They might have shed some tears, and been very emotional during that time,” added Perfetti. “It was pretty life changing, so it was amazing to be there and celebrate with them.”
Not only did he celebrate with his family at the lake, Perfetti travelled back to Winnipeg a few days later to celebrate teammate and captain Adam Lowry and his wife, Laura, at their wedding.
“Perfect timing, I guess you could say,” said Perfetti. “I was in Winnipeg this past weekend, so it was great to see everyone. Got to have a couple dinners with everyone, and just spend time with the guys, and so it was great to see them, and, you know, they were obviously super, super happy, super supportive, and we had a great time together.”
Despite the Jets missing the playoffs for just the second time in the last nine years, going from Presidents’ Trophy winners to a team on the outside looking in, and the rumour mill constantly turning out speculation regarding the future of star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Perfetti still believes the organization is moving in the right direction.
“This year wasn’t exactly how we planned on the ice, but you rewind two years ago and we were the best team in the league throughout the regular season and everyone’s playing really well,” added Perfetti. “That’s the kind of group that I know we have and what we all believe in and what we can accomplish.”
When it comes to the uncertainty regarding Hellebuyck, Perfetti made it clear where he and the rest of the team stand.
“We’re very anxious to know, too,” said Perfetti. “We know how special he is as a player and as a person, and obviously we want to be fighting with him, day in and day out.
“Whatever happens is obviously out of our control, there’s nothing that we can do about it. Trying to not get caught up in it, trying to just enjoy summer, get better personally, get better and as an individual, and then whatever the roster is, come Oct. 2, then that’s what it is.
“I think it’s pretty obvious that everyone obviously wants to continue to be his teammate and continue to play with him.”
The Jets open the regular season Oct. 2 at home against the Boston Bruins.
