Perfetti a no-show; contract talks unresolved

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This article was published 19/09/2024 (382 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s not a crisis just yet. These are still early days, after all. But it would be fair to classify the Cole Perfetti contract stalemate as a concerning situation for the Winnipeg Jets.

The 22-year-old forward, a restricted free agent looking to build off a breakout season, was nowhere to be found Thursday as training camp got underway.

How did it get to this point?

“I think every situation is unique,” explained general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. “That’s probably what makes it difficult at times. You look at comparables in situations like this, players that are RFAs coming out of their first contract going into their second contract. It’s tricky sometimes to get on the same page.”

This isn’t an entirely new experience for Cheveldayoff, as he was at the helm for similar impasses with current Jets Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey and former players Jacob Trouba and Patrik Laine. Trouba’s dragged on well into the season, while the other three were resolved within a matter of days.

“I had a conversation with Cole’s representative (Thursday) morning. We’re looking at things and trying to make it work,” said Cheveldayoff, who declined to get into any specifics of those chats.

“I don’t know that necessarily helps the process. It’s never been my style to do that. I’ll try and stay true to that.”

“It’s unfortunate that he’s not here but others get to step up. And that’s kind of our camp.”–Head coach Scott Arniel

Perfetti is represented by KO Sports, headed up by Kurt Overhardt, which also represented Trouba.

Perfetti was not present at the Jets team dinner Wednesday night in which Scott Arniel, who takes over for retired bench boss Rick Bowness, addressed the troops.

“It’s unfortunate that he’s not here but others get to step up. And that’s kind of our camp,” said Arniel.

“We’ve got a lot of jobs… And I told them last night that there’s opportunities and through hard work, how they practice, and the exhibition games themselves, guys are going to get a chance to play and show us what you have.”

Perfetti, the 10th pick in the 2020 NHL draft, is coming off a year in which he set personal bests in goals (19), assists (19), points (38) and games played (71). But he also battled consistency issues at times and was a healthy scratch for several games, including the first four playoff contests.

Finding a term and a salary that makes sense for both sides has become a sticking point. Is there disappointment it has reached this point and wasn’t dealt with during the off-season?

“But obviously, bottom line, everyone’s in their own situation. Everyone, it’s different. Every contract situation is different. No two are the same, in my view.”–Teammate Josh Morrissey

“You’re always looking to hit the ground running in all aspects of things. Certainly with (Scott Arniel)’s first training camp and important teaching things that happen early in camp,” Cheveldayoff said.

“We play exhibition games coming up quicker than normal on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Things happen fast, day by day, so you hope it gets done.”

Morrissey has been down this road before, as he was without a new deal when training camp began in 2018.

“I obviously missed the first few days of camp the one year, and jokingly said I didn’t have to do the fitness testing that year. So he’s saving his legs, I guess,” Morrissey said Thursday

“But obviously, bottom line, everyone’s in their own situation. Everyone, it’s different. Every contract situation is different. No two are the same, in my view, and every, every process that one goes through. So whatever he needs as a teammate. I’m just trying to support him. Obviously, we’d love to have him back as soon as possible and get him on ice to get building with the group.”

Perfetti is one of four RFAs still without a deal, joining Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, New Jersey Devils forward Dawson Mercer and St. Louis Blues forward Nikita Alexandrov

“Hopefully, something hits home on both sides that we can grasp on to.”–GM Kevin Cheveldayoff

Cheveldayoff said this isn’t personal, noting the organization “thinks the world of Cole,”, who represented the Jets last week at the NHL media tour in Vegas.

“That’s the hardest part. Personally, I’d give these guys the moon. They’re awesome guys and I’d love to have the ability to pay them everything they want and deserve,” said Cheveldayoff.

“In a salary cap world, you have to make business decisions. It’s done through the back and forth, it’s done through comparables. Hopefully, you just try and find something that works for both sides.”

The key to a resolution, he said, is for both sides to continue talking or corresponding and presenting different points of view.

“Hopefully, something hits home on both sides that we can grasp on to,” he said.

mike.mcintyre#freepress.mb.ca

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