Encore for Perfetti includes linemate Toews

As he returned to his hometown in Ontario this summer, Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti was surprised by how many people wanted to talk to him about the “Manitoba Miracle.”

“They’re all Leafs fans and for them to be asking about that and recognizing that I scored that goal, it was really cool to have that,” Perfetti told the Free Press on Friday, referring to his incredible buzzer-beater last April against the St. Louis Blues that staved off playoff elimination and made headlines across the sports world.

“I guess I didn’t right away recognize how big of a goal it was in terms. You go to the grocery store, you go here or wherever it is and people always… the first thing they say is what a goal. They always say they’ll never forget that for the rest of their lives.”

Perfetti’s name is now etched in local hockey history for a dramatic moment his head coach, Scott Arniel, ranks alongside Paul Henderson’s 1972 classic against the Soviet Union, Bobby Orr’s airborne beauty and Sidney Crosby’s golden-goal overtime winner at the 2010 Olympics.

So what might Perfetti do for an encore? How about helping usher in the return of hometown hero Jonathan Toews, who signed with the Jets this past summer and is now skating on a line with Perfetti and free-agent addition Gustav Nyquist.

“Growing up, our family, my sister was a big Chicago fan and Patrick Kane fan so I started watching the Blackhawks a lot, too. I quickly became a (Toews) fan and it’s kind of funny how 15 years later, now you’re playing on the same line with him,” Perfetti said following the second day of training camp at Hockey For All Centre.

“Eight-year-old me probably would have been freaking out that he’s playing with one of his favourite players ever. It’s pretty surreal that it’s come full circle like that.”

Perfetti may be the young pup on his line — he’s 14 years younger than Toews and 13 years younger than Nyquist — but he’s also played 222 more games with the Jets than either of them. Does that make him the veteran, of sorts?

“No. No, nothing like that. Just trying to learn from them, honestly,” he said.

“It’s nice to play with two guys that have been around for a long time, doing it at a high level, for a really long time. And, it’s exciting to play with guys that have done so much in their career. I can learn a lot from these guys and both great guys off the ice. Pretty awesome to get this opportunity.”

Arniel is hoping the Perfetti-Toews-Nyquist trio can find early chemistry and provide valuable secondary scoring behind the top line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi. But there are plenty of unknowns, with Toews returning after a two-year, health-related hiatus and Nyquist coming off a career-worst campaign.

“With Jonathan and his experience, and the type of player that he is we wanted to put him with some real good skill and with Perfetti and Nyquist, that is what they are there,” said Arniel.

“Perfetti had a great year for us last year and we need for him to continue to build.”

He sure did, setting career highs for points (50), assists (32) and games played (82) last year, and he’s a prime candidate to help the Jets offset the off-season loss of Nikolaj Ehlers by taking another big step forward.

“He had a breakout year last year. Being with those guys, I have tried to figure out who the shooter was and who the passer was and I am starting to figure out that Cole looks like he is going to be the shooter,” said Arniel.

“He is getting a chance and it is going to be a different look. With Ehlers beings there last year there was an extreme speed level to it. But Gus has great visions and great hands, a good playmaker, and Jonathan has the drive, the ability to get to the net front to make those plays in close. I am excited to see those guys.”

Perfetti is also likely to get a shot at filling Ehlers’s spot on the top power-play unit alongside Scheifele, Connor, Vilardi and Josh Morrissey.

“Losing Nikky, it hurts. But everyone’s gotta take another step in the right direction and level up their game and that’s exactly what my mindset was all summer,” he said.

“There’s going to be a hole to fill there and no one’s going to be able to fill exactly what Nikky did by themselves because he was a great player and what he could do was special. As a line, for us, we’re focused on being the best second line going out there and working together.”

Nyquist was thrilled to learn he’d get the chance to skate with one of the game’s brightest young stars in Perfetti and one of the most decorated players in NHL history in Toews.

“I think the more reps you get, the better it is. In practice, scrimmages, pre-season. And talking to each other between shifts and just kind of getting to know each other’s tendencies,” said Nyquist, who inked a one-year deal with Winnipeg that pays him US$3.25 million.

The Swedish winger dipped to just 28 points last season with the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild — a sharp drop from his career-high 75 the year before.

“I think there was a lot of factors but, unfortunately, that was the reality of the season that we had where a lot of guys couldn’t find their way, underperformed and never seemed to click for various reasons,” said Nyquist.

“I still feel I am the same player I was two years ago and to come in here and get a fresh start and I am excited to be playing with the two guys I am playing with — is a great opportunity for me, too. Hopefully we can start in a good way and keep it rolling.”

Perfetti is counting on it.

“It will be hard to top (the Manitoba Miracle) but I’m hoping we can do something special this year,” he said.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg