Perfetti: We're 'positive' new Jets contract will get done
Cole Perfetti is optimistic he'll come to an agreement with the Winnipeg Jets on a new pact.
“Our side is working on a deal with them," the restricted free-agent forward told reporters, including theScore's John Matisz. "We’re obviously positive something’s going to get done. Our groups are working hard together to figure something out. At this point, I want to be there.”
Despite the ongoing contract talks, Perfetti is the only one representing the Jets at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas.
“I figured they wouldn’t ask me to come if (a contract wasn’t close),” he said with a smile, according to Matisz. “At the same time, you never know.”
Perfetti is one of the NHL's last remaining RFAs. The 22-year-old produced 19 goals and 19 assists over 71 games last season, his second full campaign and third with the Jets. He collected eight tallies and 22 helpers across 51 contests in 2022-23 after splitting his rookie season between Winnipeg and the AHL's Manitoba Moose in 2021-22.
He was streaky this past campaign. After notching 14 goals and 15 assists in 40 games, he went without a tally over the next 23 contests while mustering only two helpers. He then racked up five goals and two assists over the final eight games of the regular season.
Perfetti was made a healthy scratch repeatedly in the playoffs, appearing in only one of Winnipeg's five games against the Colorado Avalanche. He acknowledged Wednesday that he has a "clean slate" with new head coach Scott Arniel, who replaced the retired Rick Bowness.
"New coach and then coming into a new contract, I think it's (about) trying to take what I did last year, learn from all of it, and try to just take it as a positive," Perfetti said. "Obviously, there were some ups and downs. It's all part of the learning process, and I think every player has to go through that eventually. Now, hopefully that's over with, done with, and I'm able to learn from that."
The Jets have around $5.78 million in cap space, per PuckPedia. Perfetti is their lone remaining free agent.
Winnipeg drafted him 10th overall in 2020.