Perfetti works hard, remains positive while waiting to return to action

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This article was published 22/03/2024 (563 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK — All talk. No action. That sums up Cole Perfetti’s road trip so far, where lengthy game-day conversations with his coaches have been followed by press box assignments at puck drop.

“There’s been some dark times,” the 22-year-old told the Free Press on Friday on the topic of trying to navigate four straight healthy scratches, including the first three games on this season-long five-game journey.

“There’s been some learning parts from it. I’d be lying if I said it’s been easy. It’s been tough.”

After a two goal, one assist performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 9, Perfetti was sitting at 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) through 40 games. Since then, he’s appeared in 23 games, with no goals and just two assists, while bouncing in and out of the lineup in recent weeks.

“I’m hard on myself like everyone else is. It’s pro sports. You don’t get here without being hard on yourself,” said Perfetti, the 10th overall draft pick from 2020.

“Going through this for the first time ever in your life isn’t easy. You want to be out there, you want to help the team. You know you can, you know you can offer a lot. We have a really good team. That’s what happens with a really good team. You have a lot of really good players that may not get in the lineup. That’s the case here.”

Certainly not after the trade deadline, when Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli were brought in to bolster the forward ranks. Add them to the fact everyone except forward Gabe Vilardi (enlarged spleen) is currently healthy and there’s more competition for playing time than ever.

When this trip began last Sunday in Columbus, head coach Rick Bowness spent at least five minutes having a one-on-one chat with Perfetti during the morning skate, frequently putting his arm around him and patting him on the back. Associate coach Scott Arniel had a similar personal dialogue with him Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

“The message is just try to be ready,” Perfetti said of how those conversations have gone.

“We obviously have a really good team and we’re doing really well. I don’t make the lineup decisions, so their message to myself is that I’ve just got to be ready when I get my chance. You never know when an opportunity’s gonna come knocking. Whenever that comes, I’ve got to take advantage of that and be ready for that.”

Which brings us to Saturday, when Perfetti is expected to return to the lineup as the Jets face the New York Islanders. During Friday’s skate at the New York Islanders practice facility in East Meadow, N.Y, he was skating on a line with Monahan and Toffoli in the spot of Nikolaj Ehlers, who took a maintenance day.

While Ehlers is expected to play, Perfetti will likely be on the fourth line with Vlad Namestnikov and Morgan Barron. David Gustafsson would come out to make room.

“It’s exciting,” said Perfetti, who admits he’s trying not to apply too much pressure on himself.

“I think I did that too much earlier, and that’s ultimately what got me out of the lineup. I think at this point I’ve got to go play how I know I can play. Not play hesitant, not play scared, not be worried about making mistakes. Make my plays like when I found success at the beginning of the year.

“Come in and not be worried, just do my thing, play my game. That’s why they drafted me, that’s why I’m playing on this team, that’s why I’m here. Just go back to the fundamentals, go back to the confidence that I had.”

Perfetti seemed to turn a corner on March 11 in a game against the Washington Capitals where he had several scoring chances, including hitting two posts.

“I could have scored four goals that game,” he said. A good sign, for sure. But also, “a little bit of frustration when you feel like you’ve created lots but have nothing to show for it.”

That seemed to spill over to the next game, a poor effort from himself (and most of his teammates) in a loss to the Nashville Predators. Two nights later, Perfetti was a healthy scratch as the homestand concluded in a win over the Anaheim Ducks, a start of three straight victories for Winnipeg which ended with a 4-1 loss Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.

Now, another opportunity.

“The Nashville game is one you want to erase from the brain. I’ve got to go off from that Washington game, that’s how we can play as a line, that’s how I can play personally. Go from there,” said Perfetti, who is also trying to keep the big picture in mind during this difficult personal stretch.

“It’s all part of the process. You can’t be nearsighted. You’ve got to be a good teammate, a good player, good person. Everything else will take care of itself,” he said.

“It’s a long career, hopefully a long career. Just come into work every day, have a smile on my face, be excited to be here. I’m pretty positive that it will all work out in the end.”

IN OTHER LINEUP NEWS

In addition to Perfetti coming in, expect a couple other changes for the Jets as they finish the trip with back-t0-back matinees. Connor Hellebuyck will be in net to face the Islanders, with Laurent Brossoit (40 shots, 37 saves against the Devils) likely getting Sunday afternoon’s assignment in Washington.

Defenceman Nate Schmidt, a healthy scratch against New Jersey, will replace Colin Miller.

Just as the Devils were a desperate bunch on Thursday, you can expect similar urgency from the Islanders (who have lost six straight games) and the Capitals, with both teams fighting to stay alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Bowness, who left the team on Monday to return to Winnipeg for a medical procedure, will not rejoin them this weekend. He continues to recover — “he’s still in some pain,” Arniel said Friday — and the hope is he can be back when a five-game homestand starts Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

Last but not least, the Jets are continuing to monitor Vilardi’s situation. There remains no timetable for his return, but the hope is he could be back before the end of the regular season.

Winnipeg has 13 games remaining.

“He’s sticking with it. I feel bad for him. Everyone does,” teammate and good friend Alex Iafallo said Friday.

“He was really turning it up. That’s the type of player he is. His protection skills are unbelievable, his sight is awesome. Hopefully everything is going to go well and once he gets back he’ll be buzzing.”

Vilardi has appeared in 38 games this season, with 16 goals and 14 assists, He’s missed 21 others (and counting) due to a trio of injuries.

“Hopefully he will be good soon,” said Iafallo. “He’s had some bad luck. Can’t wait to have him back.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg