Oft-injured Perfetti feeling good and ready for the future

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This article was published 21/09/2023 (746 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cole Perfetti is looking to put any questions people may have about his durability in the rearview mirror.

The Winnipeg Jets forward is eager to get rolling in training camp after seeing consecutive campaigns end early due to season-ending injuries.

“My goal is to play the whole season,” said Perfetti, who had eight goals and 30 points in 51 games and was in the thick of the Calder Trophy discussion before his season came to a premature end. “It’s not easy, there is a lot that goes into it. I want to show that I’m strong enough, big enough and smart enough to play a prolonged schedule here.

“That’s a big goal of mine is to show that I can do that. I feel ready, I feel excited. I can’t wait to get the season going. I definitely want to show how my summer went and that the injury stuff is in the past now. I feel really good and ready for the future.”

Perfetti, 21, has a bit more on his plate this fall as he makes the adjustment back to his natural position of centre after spending most of his time with the Jets as a winger.

“I’m really excited. It’s obviously a big role and a huge part of this team so it’s not going to be easy but it’s going to be exciting. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Perfetti, noting he’s been working with Adam Lowry in the faceoff dot. “I’m trying to learn every little bit from these guys that have played a long time and know the ins and outs of playing centre.

“I feel comfortable. I’ve played centre pretty much my whole life up until these last few years here. I feel comfortable up the middle. I like it. Now it’s just getting used to it at this speed and I think each day at camp, it’s going to get a little bit better and better.”

Perfetti’s skillset is what has given him a leg up on the competition after the departure of Pierre-Luc Dubois.

“The one thing that I really enjoy about playing centre and it kind of helps my game is being able to have both sides of the ice open,” said Perfetti, who was chosen 10th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. “Your options are way more now and you’re able to see the ice a lot more. I kind of think that that is one of my stronger parts of my game, being able to see the ice. And instead of being limited to being able to seeing the ice like this, now I’m going to be able to have my peripherals, scan both sides, and be able to use both sides of the ice.

“That’s the one thing I enjoyed, playing centre my whole life, was just being able to go left or right or come right up the middle. The other thing I like is being able to keep your speed. You’re able to, in the neutral zone, gather some speed low and get a lot of opportunity to come into the neutral zone fast. At wing, you’re sometimes stuck on the blue line, posted up, as an outlet. Where as a centre, sometimes you’re able to keep your speed and come underneath the play and get the puck flying through the neutral zone.”

Top-line centre Mark Scheifele was asked what advice he’s given Perfetti as he transitions to the middle.

“You know, just take it in stride. You know it’s not going to come in one skate, two skates. It comes in time,” said Scheifele. “Me and Cole are pretty close so I’m sure there’s going to be some conversations down the line about things. He’s an awesome kid. He works so hard. I spent a good amount of time with him in the summer.

“He changed trainers, worked with Matty Nichol and looks amazing on the ice. Put on a lot of muscle, put in a lot of work this summer. I gained a lot of respect for the kid for doing that, making some changes and learning and trying to grow. I’m there to help him each and every step of the way.”

One of the other benefits of Perfetti moving from the wing to centre is that it could reduce the number of big hits he takes.

“It gets him off the boards and maybe gives him a little bit more freedom in the open ice,” said Jets head coach Rick Bowness. “With his hockey IQ, he’ll see the open ice and hopefully avoid putting himself in those positions where he’s going to be crunched at the wrong time.”

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It didn’t take long for the first injury scare of training camp to occur.

Forward Nikolaj Ehlers left the ice Thursday afternoon following just a few minutes of drills and didn’t return. Following the skate, Bowness said the flashy winger was dealing with neck spasms that flared up Wednesday night.

“He tried to get through practice. Obviously, it didn’t work,” said Bowness.

“We’re going to keep him off the ice (Friday). And hopefully, he will be back on the ice on Saturday. That’s the plan at this point.”

Bowness was asked if this was specifically a hockey-related injury, or the product of something else like a poor night’s sleep.

“We’re not sure. He was up in the gym (Wednesday) after practice and after the workout and hurt something,” said Bowness.

“He came to see the trainers and he had hurt his neck. That happens. Hopefully, we can get him back on the ice on Saturday.”

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Colby Barlow had himself quite a day.

First, the 18-year-old stepped on the ice to participate in his first NHL training camp. Once that was done, the 2023 first-round pick signed his first big league contract with the Jets.

Barlow, the 18th-overall pick last summer, inked a three-year entry level deal that will pay US$1.2 million.

“Good for him. Clearly, I didn’t see him play junior, but everybody that I talked to in our organization and other organizations speak very highly of his character, that he’s a great teammate, a great kid,” said Bowness.

“He’s a hard-working, two-way player. I’ve never heard a negative word on this kid. Good for him. He’s earned it. We know he’s going to continue to develop until he plays in Winnipeg one day.”

Barlow had 79 points (46 goals, 33 assists) in 59 games with the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario Hockey League last year. He is eligible to return to junior for the coming season, unless the Jets decide there is an immediate spot for him on the roster. He would not be eligible to play in the American Hockey League.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

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