Having grown up in Saginaw, Michigan, Cole Perfetti was a natural fit to play football. In high school, he was a two-time first-team All-State selection as a running back. In college, he played quarterback and was named a first-team All-American. After his freshman year, he was drafted in the second round by the New York Jets. His junior year, he helped lead the team to its first playoff victory in eight years. He earned first-team all-conference honors in his final two seasons.

Childhood in Saginaw

Authentic childhood in Saginaw for Cole Perfetti was a special one. He met his future NHL teammate Dante Giannuzzi when he was just ten years old. As they grew up and started playing minor hockey together, they formed a close friendship.

Perfetti, a center from Whitby, Ont., has been named the Saginaw Spirit’s top scorer this season. His 37 goals and 37 assists for 74 points in 63 games helped the Spirit finish second in the West Division.

The Winnipeg Jets picked Perfetti with the 10th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He will be the first Spirit skater to be in talks for a top 10 selection.

Perfetti was the highest-drafted Saginaw Spirit player ever selected. The Saginaw Spirit is owned by the Detroit Red Wings and has connections to their organization.

Perfetti was drafted as a center by the Jets. He was recruited by the University of Michigan. As a teenager, he enrolled at The Hill Academy in Whitby, Ont. He played minor hockey with Toronto-based teams before deciding to sign with the Saginaw Spirit.

Perfetti was cut from Team Canada’s World Junior roster in December. He finished second in the OHL’s 2020-20 season with 111 points. He was also selected to play in the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Hamilton. He scored his first NHL goal in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on January 18.

The Jets’ selection of Perfetti gives them one of the top skaters in the OHL. His hockey IQ, vision, and execution were praised by NHL Central Scouting.

In addition to his hockey IQ and vision, Perfetti has shown a special touch for goal scoring. He was fourth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings. He was also ranked fifth in the Final Rankings. He also is the third highest scoring winger in the OHL.

Perfetti has been a highly-touted prospect since his draft day. His parents say he was a model child. The family believes he was meant to play for the Jets.

Back injury that helped calm his nerves

Having played just three preseason games, it’s hard to gauge whether Cole Perfetti’s back injury is a lingering issue or an underlying problem. But so far, the Jets are giving him plenty of time to get healthy and show off his playmaking abilities in the NHL. He’s slotted on the left wing of a line that includes Blake Wheeler and Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Perfetti has three points in three preseason games. He also scored twice in the 3-2 shootout loss against the Edmonton Oilers. In a 2-1 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild, Perfetti had an assist, and he was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. He’s slated to have an expanded role when the regular season begins.

The Jets’ interim head coach isn’t ready to make a decision about Perfetti just yet. However, the coach has been giving him a lot of credit for his performance this season. He also praised Perfetti for his efforts during a key stretch of the season.

In the final season of his junior hockey career, Perfetti tallied 37 goals and 74 assists in 61 games. He was also the first player in franchise history to score a multi-point effort in a single game.

Perfetti’s skills do not always translate to the NHL, and he’s had to learn how to survive the challenges of a top NHL job. But he’s showing signs of improvement and has improved his relationship with teammates. He’s also improving his puck-possession style of play. He likes playing a fast, puck-possession style of hockey.

Perfetti is still young, so he’ll have to go through some growing pains as he gets more reps in the NHL. He’s also not guaranteed a top six spot with the Jets.

Nonetheless, he’s working hard to make his case to stay with the Jets. He’s preparing for the upcoming season by working out at local gyms, and he’s also working hard to get out of bed as much as possible.

The Jets’ interim head coach wants to see Perfetti get plenty of reps. He’s hoping the 20-year-old will make a case for himself with the club in the coming months.

Going to Vegas for his 20th birthday

During his rookie season in the OHL, Cole Perfetti was the second best scorer in the league, finishing second in goals and points. He was also one of the strongest passers among his group. The Jets have promoted him to their second line, and he has scored at least one point in four straight games.

Despite being a few years away from the NHL, Perfetti is projected as a very good player. He was a high-scoring center last season with the Saginaw Muskegon Lumberjacks in the OHL, and has a great track record of developing into a high-impact player. He’s a strong passer and will be able to help the Jets score goals, and he’s one of the most promising players in the community draft board. He’s also projected as a top-ten selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

The Jets have had six practice days since December 19, and they’ve done plenty of work with their players during that time. They’ve spent time working on defensive positioning, and they’ve also been working with players on handling opponents in front of the net. In addition, head coach Jeff Lowry has asked his players to get feet to the front of the net more often, and to move more often to the front of the net. It’s all in preparation for the Jets’ road trip to Las Vegas for Perfetti’s 20th birthday on Saturday.

As for Perfetti’s teammates, the Jets have been working on defensive positioning during the team’s practice sessions. In particular, head coach Jeff Lowry has asked his team to get their feet to the front of the net, and to get their players to handle opposing forwards in front of the goal. On Friday, 22 skaters were in the Jets’ practice lineup. They’ll be back on the ice for a longer practice period on Saturday.