Player Discussion: Cole Perfetti 10th OA pick

[Howard Chuck]

What are thoughts on developing him as a center this coming year? What line and linemates would it take to let him jump in?

I would love to see him get the best possible opportunity to succeed as a top 6 C this year.

 

[tbcwpg]

What are thoughts on developing him as a center this coming year? What line and linemates would it take to let him jump in?

I would love to see him get the best possible opportunity to succeed as a top 6 C this year.

You'd have to move Scheifele or Dubois to the wing in that case. I'm not 100% opposed to the idea though. I'm not sure that makes the Jets a better team this year and from the sounds of it all the players want to push that window next season.

If Scheifele is traded though, then sure.

 

[surixon]

What are thoughts on developing him as a center this coming year? What line and linemates would it take to let him jump in?

I would love to see him get the best possible opportunity to succeed as a top 6 C this year.

I think it comes down to if Scheifele is still here or not as to whether he is played at center.

I think he has the game to convert and be successful in the middle. I also think that even if Mark is here they need a succession plan for whe he leaves in two years.

I think you give him Ehlers as one winger to help drive play. I'd also give him Stastny as the other winger if back to help mentor him.

You give Paul the bulk of dzone center responsibilities in the beginning and have him slowly relinquish those to Cole as he is ready for them.

 

[Howard Chuck]

You'd have to move Scheifele or Dubois to the wing in that case. I'm not 100% opposed to the idea though. I'm not sure that makes the Jets a better team this year and from the sounds of it all the players want to push that window next season.

If Scheifele is traded though, then sure.

True, if we still have 55 the top 6 C's are taken. Wonder if we would go with 3 scoring lines and move Lowry to the fourth line? Might be a good opportunity to do that.

 

[Howard Chuck]

I think it comes down to if Scheifele is still here or not as to whether he is played at center.

I think he has the game to convert and be successful in the middle. I also think that even if Mark is here they need a succession plan for whe he leaves in two years.

I think you give him Ehlers as one winger to help drive play. I'd also give him Stastny as the other winger if back to help mentor him.

You give Paul the bulk of dzone center responsibilities in the beginning and have him slowly relinquish those to Cole as he is ready for them.

If we ran three scoring lines, Ehlers/Perfetti/Stastny would certainly be a good one. Not sure if we have the wingers in this case. Would be a good problem to have.

 

[tbcwpg]

True, if we still have 55 the top 6 C's are taken. Wonder if we would go with 3 scoring lines and move Lowry to the fourth line? Might be a good opportunity to do that.

I'm not sure we have the winger depth to do that and give Perfetti the tools to succeed at the same time, unfortunately.

I see Stastny included in a lot of lineups buy there's no guarantee he's back. If the coach isn't sorted out or he doesn't like the pick, would you come back for your maybe last NHL season to that locker room?

 

[DRW204]

What are thoughts on developing him as a center this coming year? What line and linemates would it take to let him jump in?

I would love to see him get the best possible opportunity to succeed as a top 6 C this year.

if scheifele+pld are on the roster, v little chance he's a top-6 C. he's not better than either of them at C, and doubtful they'd push either to the wing for him. i can see egos getting in the way of that ever happening.

there's a spot for him at 3C but the org will have veer off of Lowry at 3c for that to happen which im unsure will happen. and idk if 4C w/ v low-end wingers is the best spot for him. i think he's a top-6 Wing this year.

i think it's paramount to see what he is at C though. scheifele's new contract is due in 2 years, and might be gone sooner. so you'd have to get a bonafide top-6c in trade, or via FA - which this org has a tough time doing. so id like to see him at 3C this year so by 2 years time he'd hopefully be a sure-fire top-6C. this org has had problems draft/developing top-6Cs in 11 years (scheifele is the sole one).

what id consider for a top-9 lineup....if perfetti is at 3c, which again, i think you need to see what he can do at C.

connor-dubois-x
ehlers-scheifele-y
z-perfetti-wheeler

x: i like the chemistry they had with svech, but dunno what the plans are with him this year. i can see another play-maker/pass-first player (similar to how perfetti was) on that line. burakovsky maybe? can also consider wheeler up there too.
y: physical/size winger.... ie: palat, niederreiter, v.nichushkin
z: shoot-first top-9er...ie: e.rodrigues, mikheyev

 

[surixon]

if scheifele+pld are on the roster, v little chance he's a top-6 C. he's not better than either of them at C, and doubtful they'd push either to the wing for him. i can see egos getting in the way of that ever happening.

there's a spot for him at 3C but the org will have veer off of Lowry at 3c for that to happen which im unsure will happen. and idk if 4C w/ v low-end wingers is the best spot for him. i think he's a top-6 Wing this year.

i think it's paramount to see what he is at C though. scheifele's new contract is due in 2 years, and might be gone sooner. so you'd have to get a bonafide top-6c in trade, or via FA - which this org has a tough time doing. so id like to see him at 3C this year so by 2 years time he'd hopefully be a sure-fire top-6C. this org has had problems draft/developing top-6Cs in 11 years (scheifele is the sole one).

what id consider for a top-9 lineup....if perfetti is at 3c, which again, i think you need to see what he can do at C.

connor-dubois-x
ehlers-scheifele-y
z-perfetti-wheeler

x: i like the chemistry they had with svech, but dunno what the plans are with him this year. i can see another play-maker/pass-first player (similar to how perfetti was) on that line. burakovsky maybe? can also consider wheeler up there too.
y: physical/size winger.... ie: palat, niederreiter, v.nichushkin
z: shoot-first top-9er...ie: e.rodrigues, mikheyev

Well said. I agree with your ideas. I don't see any reason why you need to stack the top 6. Put two high end skill players in each of the top 3 lines and then find a complimentary piece for each. I agree with your pairings.

I see no reason not to bring back Svech at $800 k and play him with Dubois and Conner. He's shown he fits in well as the third wheel on that line. He also has some size and tenacity to go with his smarts and skill.

Not sure what to do for the other two open spots. Can a guy like Barron/Harkins under a different head coach fill one of those slots as we likely only have cap space to fill one of the two externally.

 

[NA Hockey]

I think he plays top 6 wing this season, with an opportunity to spot in during the season at centre if/when Dubois, Scheifele or Lowry miss games which undoubtedly will happen at some point.

He's still 20 years old, I would rather see him play top 6 mins with elite offensive players and play good quality minutes and see PP time, rather than play 3C and grind it out with less skill players for 10-12 mins a game. Plenty of time once he is acclimated to move him to centre.

 

[surixon]

I think he plays top 6 wing this season, with an opportunity to spot in during the season at centre if/when Dubois, Scheifele or Lowry miss games which undoubtedly will happen at some point.

He's still 20 years old, I would rather see him play top 6 mins with elite offensive players and play good quality minutes and see PP time, rather than play 3C and grind it out with less skill players for 10-12 mins a game. Plenty of time once he is acclimated to move him to centre.

That is another way they can go about it and probably the template that is more likely.

 

[ps241]

Yea I would go with a mash up of the ideas stated.

If we get Trotz as Coach then all bets are off. If we get another coach I would like to see us move to a top 9 format like @DRW204 laid out and that would get Cole to centre in a sheltered role. I prefer this because I have no interest in Scheifele’s next contract so I think this is the season Cole needs to learn the centre position and I like the idea of that happening on the 3rd line. I do see the merit of playing him in the top 6 on the wing for now until injuries occur (Lowry, Scheifele, PLD) and then moving him to centre but we need to move on from the 3rd line anchored by Lowry as our shut down unit. That quit working a few years back and I think its time to move forward out of the stone age. Nothing wrong with playing Adam in the same role but on the 4th line. I think that could actually be really effective.

We have options but in a perfect world Cole should be groomed for a top 6 centre role by 2023-24 IMO.

 

[Jet]

I think if we keep 55 the moment we see him dogging it defensively we move him to the wing.

Your c has to be your best defensive player on a line and Schiefele is usually the worst.

 

[ps241]

I think if we keep 55 the moment we see him dogging it defensively we move him to the wing.

Your c has to be your best defensive player on a line and Schiefele is usually the worst.

One challenge we have is that Mark lines up at Centre and he takes the draws but he really doesn't play the center position. Mark plays like a scoring forward not a center. At times Mark flies the zone too soon, does the fly by stick poke checks that rarely work and take you out of postition, cheats for offense, and lacks commitment and focus for the responsibilities of the traditional Centre position. Putting it generously Mark is a high end offensive talent that prefers to trade scoring changes with the other team.

Hopefully a new coach can get him to commit to a more effective playing style. I think Mark will be surprises that getting the puck back might increase his 5v5 productively.

 

[voyageur]

Yea I would go with a mash up of the ideas stated.

If we get Trotz as Coach then all bets are off. If we get another coach I would like to see us move to a top 9 format like @DRW204 laid out and that would get Cole to centre in a sheltered role. I prefer this because I have no interest in Scheifele’s next contract so I think this is the season Cole needs to learn the centre position and I like the idea of that happening on the 3rd line. I do see the merit of playing him in the top 6 on the wing for now until injuries occur (Lowry, Scheifele, PLD) and then moving him to centre but we need to move on from the 3rd line anchored by Lowry as our shut down unit. That quit working a few years back and I think its time to move forward out of the stone age. Nothing wrong with playing Adam in the same role but on the 4th line. I think that could actually be really effective.

We have options but in a perfect world Cole should be groomed for a top 6 centre role by 2023-24 IMO.

I'm just curious about your reasoning PS, because I know you're a heavy booster of Trotz. And right up until the Pageau trade, the Isles were running Czikas-Clutterbuck as their 3rd line. So it seems that Trotzky is a big fan of a heavy checking line. Even after the Pageau trade, Czikas was getting 14 minutes of ice time, so Trotz was running 4 lines, with Barzal being the only guy above 20 minutes. Do you think you can appease the egoes here with that kind of hockey? In Washington he ran Lars Eller at 3C, whose totals are similar to Lowry's good years, perhaps even below them.

I agree that Perfetti should be held back at C for a while. I look at him being less physically mature than Scheifele at 20, and coming off a shoulder injury. Some of the centres he could face include Faksa and Benn, who would try to drive him through the boards, maybe Landeskog (same thing) some big dogs in O'Reilly and Schenn, some hard checking centres in Nashville, and then you have the skaters like Mc Jesus, and Mac Crosby and I don't really see Cole matching up in any way with those guys.

Then I look at the guy who has been developed as a centre here in Winnipeg, David Gustafsson. When the Moose season started last year it was Gus centering Perfetti if I am not mistaken. He was earmarked for the 4th line this year after Nash was moved to waivers, but couldn't stay healthy.

So going into this season I think that Perfetti's most successful spot would be building on the primarily offensive zone line with Connor and Dubois. And more PP time to build up some confidence.

As for Scheifele, I wonder how much a healthy Blake Wheeler affects his performance. Because Scheif has always been Scheif. Great offensive instincts, poor defensive awareness. But Wheeler as he continues to slow, needs to be the guy that can take care of the defensive zone, allowing Scheifele to have success in the other end of the rink.

I'd be really surprised regardless of coach, if Chevy's game plan isn't

Connor-Dubois-Perfetti
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
?-Lowry-Appleton
?-Gustafsson-?

And so there's 3 question marks, one of them probably goes to Barron, you've got Svetchnikov, Harkins, Reichel, Toninato competing, Torgersson as an outside shot, and probably somebody else brought in.

 

[Teemusalami204]

So what’s this kids potential ?

Are we talking a eberle type of small soft forward ? Puts up 60 points a year ?

Or a kuchurov lite type ?

Or something completely different ?

 

[JetsWillFly4Ever]

I played golf with Carson Lambos who thought the older guys who were getting NHL minutes would likely not come back for WJC in August. Didn't say he heard for sure, but was just guessing.

I could see Perfetti forgoing the WJC and instead getting ready for the NHL season.

 

[SLAYER]

After "Trotz Watch," the cup finals, and the draft, I'm ready for a nice summer away from hockey. Will probably watch the WJC though, it would be great to see a little preview of Perfetti.

Aside from the team reset with a new coaching staff, I'm most excited for Perfetti to play a full season with the Jets. The kid has fantastic ability, you can feel it when he's on the ice. Plus, he's blessed with #91, which is sure to give him special powers like Stamkos, Tavares, Seguin, Tarasenko, and Fedorov.

 

[tbcwpg]

So what’s this kids potential ?

Are we talking a eberle type of small soft forward ? Puts up 60 points a year ?

Or a kuchurov lite type ?

Or something completely different ?

NHL Central Scouting had him compared to Nugent-Hopkins, which I'd be totally fine with.

It's tough to really say because a lot of the comparables are to centres. I don't think he's a perennial all star but he should be a good top 6 forward.

 

[Teemusalami204]

I’m hank

NHL Central Scouting had him compared to Nugent-Hopkins, which I'd be totally fine with.

It's tough to really say because a lot of the comparables are to centres. I don't think he's a perennial all star but he should be a good top 6 forward.

Thank you !!!!

 

[surixon]

I’m hank

Thank you !!!!

I personally like Aho as stylistic comparison. I don't see much Eberle in his game. Jordan was more a go at you player that uses his hands to create space for his shot. Cole plays with deception and his hockey sense and isn't near as flashy with the puck (not that he can't be but it isn't his game).

 

[ps241]

I'm just curious about your reasoning PS, because I know you're a heavy booster of Trotz. And right up until the Pageau trade, the Isles were running Czikas-Clutterbuck as their 3rd line. So it seems that Trotzky is a big fan of a heavy checking line. Even after the Pageau trade, Czikas was getting 14 minutes of ice time, so Trotz was running 4 lines, with Barzal being the only guy above 20 minutes. Do you think you can appease the egoes here with that kind of hockey? In Washington he ran Lars Eller at 3C, whose totals are similar to Lowry's good years, perhaps even below them.

I agree that Perfetti should be held back at C for a while. I look at him being less physically mature than Scheifele at 20, and coming off a shoulder injury. Some of the centres he could face include Faksa and Benn, who would try to drive him through the boards, maybe Landeskog (same thing) some big dogs in O'Reilly and Schenn, some hard checking centres in Nashville, and then you have the skaters like Mc Jesus, and Mac Crosby and I don't really see Cole matching up in any way with those guys.

Then I look at the guy who has been developed as a centre here in Winnipeg, David Gustafsson. When the Moose season started last year it was Gus centering Perfetti if I am not mistaken. He was earmarked for the 4th line this year after Nash was moved to waivers, but couldn't stay healthy.

So going into this season I think that Perfetti's most successful spot would be building on the primarily offensive zone line with Connor and Dubois. And more PP time to build up some confidence.

As for Scheifele, I wonder how much a healthy Blake Wheeler affects his performance. Because Scheif has always been Scheif. Great offensive instincts, poor defensive awareness. But Wheeler as he continues to slow, needs to be the guy that can take care of the defensive zone, allowing Scheifele to have success in the other end of the rink.

I'd be really surprised regardless of coach, if Chevy's game plan isn't

Connor-Dubois-Perfetti
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
?-Lowry-Appleton
?-Gustafsson-?

And so there's 3 question marks, one of them probably goes to Barron, you've got Svetchnikov, Harkins, Reichel, Toninato competing, Torgersson as an outside shot, and probably somebody else brought in.

Yea my wording wasn't ideal. I was trying to say if we get Trotz then all bets are off meaning he will do things his way which I am fine with.

However, if we get a coach like Monty I would like to see three balanced scoring lines and a 4th line anchored by Lowry that gets more 5v5 usage than our 4th line under Maurice. Each scoring line would have a solid pair and a role player. Less minutes for the top guys for sure because I want to see everyone back under 20 so they can pick up the pace to execute the new system that will surely be more skewed towards shot suppression and being harder to play against.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

So what’s this kids potential ?

Are we talking a eberle type of small soft forward ? Puts up 60 points a year ?

Or a kuchurov lite type ?

Or something completely different ?

I'm bullish on him at least a first line winger who can put up between 65-75 points per game if the current goals per game in the NHL hold up at 3.05 or higher. I think he may even do better than that - a possible point per game or higher winger.

As a centre, assuming he can adjust to the position, I could see a lower end first line/high second line centre who can hit 60 -70 points per season.

It will depend on his wingers (or centremen), amount of ice time, power play time, coaching philosophy.

 

[enuffidiotsalready]

i try to keep an open mind but i just don't see 65-75 points per game as being achievable without the game changing quite radically

 

[MardyBum]

i try to keep an open mind but i just don't see 65-75 points per game as being achievable without the game changing quite radically

The game is already changing.

90+ p in 2 years max.

His IQ is off the charts, he has the hands, lateral movement, shot, and passing ability to do whatever he wants. Forward skating is the only thing holding him "back" and that's because it's not elite. He's much faster now than his draft year, just has to keep working at it.

He doesn't need to be Ehlers or Connor in skating.

 

[surixon]

The game is already changing.

90+ p in 2 years max.

His IQ is off the charts, he has the hands, lateral movement, shot, and passing ability to do whatever he wants. Forward skating is the only thing holding him "back" and that's because it's not elite. He's much faster now than his draft year, just has to keep working at it.

He doesn't need to be Ehlers or Connor in skating.

Straight line top speed has to be the most overrated attribute in hockey. Agility and being able to change pace is far more important. Cole has elite agility and good core strength. His overall speed and explosiveness continues to improve.

Like most prospects he just needs to continue to add strength.