Winnipeg Jets Select Cole Perfetti 10th Overall

The Winnipeg Jets have selected Cole Perfetti with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

In classy, Winnipeg style, the Jets allowed Crystal Hawerchuk to say a few words before announcing their selection. It was a nice tribute to the legend of Dale Hawerchuk.

Perfetti is an offensive juggernaut coming from the Saginaw Spirit where he scored 111 points in only 61 games. Being touted as possibly the best pure offensive player of the draft, Perfetti will look to make an impact right away on the offensive end.

Cole Perfetti is a left-handed center coming in at 5’11 and 177 pounds. Originally from Whitby, Ontario, Perfetti spent two years in Saginaw where he had two exceptional offensive seasons. He scored 37 goals and added 37 assists in 2018-19 and then exploded last year with 37 goals and 74 assists. Being a center, he fills a natural hole as the Jets have been looking for someone to fill Bryan Little’s shoes in the top six. Based on his offensive instincts, playing with the likes of Ehlers and Laine could lead to unprecedented success for a Jets draft pick.

A player who can score and assist, Perfetti is actually best known for his hockey sense. He can draw players towards him before making the right play with the puck. Kevin Cheveldayoff was interviewed shortly after the pick and said “we think he’s a player that has tremendous hockey sense.” That hockey sense is a common theme among scouts when it comes to Perfetti.

It’s unclear how Perfetti will slot into the lineup this next season. He doesn’t have much left to prove in junior, although the Jets might want him to get a bit bigger before bringing him onto the NHL roster full-time. That being said, if he happens to show some immediate chemistry with Patrik Laine, the Jets will have a really tough time sending him back to Saginaw. The most likely scenario is that Perfetti gets a shot with the Jets out of training camp through the first few weeks of the season.