Player Discussion: Cole Perfetti 10th OA pick

[ps241]

I agree that the smaller guys are taking on a lot of injuries - but in this case, I don't think it's bad luck.
The reason he hasn't had a lot of injury issues leading up the NHL is likely because he hasn't faced the speed and strength the NHL brings.
Regardless, I'm in his corner - and I think the org sees the issue and is working with him on it.
IMO, the problem is obvious and so is the solution - and adding some muscle / weight shouldn't impact other factors of his game like it might others.
He doesn't based his game on speed or quickness - more about seeing the game.

That list provided by NA hockey is all shapes and sizes but the thing they have in common are they are a young group. I think guys of every size have to figure out how to survive in the NHL and Cole joins the list. He will fill out at some point and start gaining man strength.

 

[NA Hockey]

I agree that the smaller guys are taking on a lot of injuries - but in this case, I don't think it's bad luck.
The reason he hasn't had a lot of injury issues leading up the NHL is likely because he hasn't faced the speed and strength the NHL brings.
Regardless, I'm in his corner - and I think the org sees the issue and is working with him on it.
IMO, the problem is obvious and so is the solution - and adding some muscle / weight shouldn't impact other factors of his game like it might others.
He doesn't based his game on speed or quickness - more about seeing the game.

I guess we will see.

Not just smaller guys getting hurt. Xhejaj, Guhle, Dach, Holloway, Svech are big rugged, well built players that have had severe injuries and in a couple cases required surgeries to fix. Just saying injuries are a part of the game. Hopefully for his and the Jets sake, it was just unlucky and with some added strength and natural growth the injuries are behind him.

If he has an injury free season I can see the team wanting to extend him long term and I said elsewhere that I see him signing a 7 or 8 year deal before July 1st 2024.

 

[hn777]

I was real high on Perfetti draft year. I had him 3 or 4. Forget now. I figured 30 goals, ppg playet

Injuries, and not a lot of PP1 time IIRC.

With potentially PLD, Scheifele, Wheeler gone, he'll get more opportunity.
He will be fine.

 

[DRW204]

And the injuries trump all of it -
Unless he can stay healthy, the metrics don't carry much weight -
I hope he can get his strength up because without a bump in that area, he'll be a target that can be taken out of any game with a clean, hard check.
And I get that can happen to anyone - but he's a lot more susceptible.

You have to assume the org realizes this after the last few injuries and are working with him.
Strength will add a huge dynamic to his game.

Metrics show there's potential. He'll need to figure out how to stay healthy no question. As he grows and gets stronger, and smarter on how to avoid hits it should help. But definite concern but something I expect him to get accustomed to given smarts is one of his strengths.

Personally I'm taking a wait and see approach. I'm old enough to remember a similarly aged jack roslovic leading this team in pts /60 at 5v5 as a winger, and the following summer this forum was labelling him a top 6 C.... We see how that turned out.

 

[MardyBum]

Metrics show there's potential. He'll need to figure out how to stay healthy no question. As he grows and gets stronger, and smarter on how to avoid hits it should help. But definite concern but something I expect him to get accustomed to given smarts is one of his strengths.

Personally I'm taking a wait and see approach. I'm old enough to remember a similarly aged jack roslovic leading this team in pts /60 at 5v5 as a winger, and the following summer this forum was labelling him a top 6 C.... We see how that turned out.

The number 1 thing. Needs a Kyle Connor school of avoiding bodychecks.

The second part is. . something? I guess.

 

[DRW204]

The number 1 thing. Needs a Kyle Connor school of avoiding bodychecks.

The second part is. . something? I guess.

Or do everything opposite of what Perrault did in avoiding hits

 

[BoneDocUK]

Metrics show there's potential. He'll need to figure out how to stay healthy no question. As he grows and gets stronger, and smarter on how to avoid hits it should help. But definite concern but something I expect him to get accustomed to given smarts is one of his strengths.

Personally I'm taking a wait and see approach. I'm old enough to remember a similarly aged jack roslovic leading this team in pts /60 at 5v5 as a winger, and the following summer this forum was labelling him a top 6 C.... We see how that turned out.

Agree about JRos -- though he had a short leash as a centre.

But I think you capture the key differences in the bolded: there's pretty clear daylight between Perfetti and Roslo in the hockey little grey cells dept. Aside from 2021-23 Neal Pionk, I regard Roslovic as the most WTF!!! Jets 2.0 player I've had the frustration to watch, despite the speed and skill.

A stronger, less vulnerable (to injury) and more experienced Perfetti is a cinch to outperform Roslo as a top 6er IMO. Whether he does it as a centre or develops into the elite talent many predicted and still hope for is the question.

EDIT: Perrault drove opponents crazy and seemed pretty durable overall as a winger despite the back issues. I suspect that most players who went after him paid with their soft parts at some point -- he had some fancy stickwork.

Man I loved me some Prime Matty P. He was one of those players you always wanted on your team because he was so sneaky good and pesty.

 

[LowLefty]

That list provided by NA hockey is all shapes and sizes but the thing they have in common are they are a young group. I think guys of every size have to figure out how to survive in the NHL and Cole joins the list. He will fill out at some point and start gaining man strength.

I agree if the point is that young players need to learn how to survive.
Cole is a bit different IMO - he's smaller than most that get an opportunity in this league - and doesn't have the speed to escape a lot of the heavy contact.
I have faith in him getting there - but think he has more of a challenge than most of the young guys.

 

[ps241]

I agree if the point is that young players need to learn how to survive.
Cole is a bit different IMO - he's smaller than most that get an opportunity in this league - and doesn't have the speed to escape a lot of the heavy contact.
I have faith in him getting there - but think he has more of a challenge than most of the young guys.

He might but his super power is he’s smart and I think he will adapt and get stronger. I have used this example before but Perfetti is the same height approximate weight and skating ability of both Adam Fox and Kurcherov when they entered the NHL at 21 (which is this upcoming season for Cole). They were all about 5’11 ish and 180 ish and none of them are burners, and all three have Hockey IQ off the charts. Cole will just need to mentally and physically adjust his game to be effective while playing a bit safer game.

 

[LowLefty]

He might but his super power is he’s smart and I think he will adapt and get stronger. I have used this example before but Perfetti is the same height approximate weight and skating ability of both Adam Fox and Kurcherov when they entered the NHL at 21 (which is this upcoming season for Cole). They were all about 5’11 ish and 180 ish and none of them are burners, and all three have Hockey IQ off the charts. Cole will just need to mentally and physically adjust his game to be effective while playing a bit safer game.

If he can get to where either of those two are, that would be success

 

[EpicGingy]

I swear if Perfetti was 1 inch taller that all the complaints about his size would immediately evaporate.

 

[ps241]

If he can get to where either of those two are, that would be success

Health wise and games played for their size I would consider that the success I am referencing. I am not expecting Cole to be at a Norris trophy equivalent forward level or a league scoring title level but those players have done well in games played considering they are Cole’s size.

 

[DRW204]

Agree about JRos -- though he had a short leash as a centre.

But I think you capture the key differences in the bolded: there's pretty clear daylight between Perfetti and Roslo in the hockey little grey cells dept. Aside from 2021-23 Neal Pionk, I regard Roslovic as the most WTF!!! Jets 2.0 player I've had the frustration to watch, despite the speed and skill.

A stronger, less vulnerable (to injury) and more experienced Perfetti is a cinch to outperform Roslo as a top 6er IMO. Whether he does it as a centre or develops into the elite talent many predicted and still hope for is the question.

EDIT: Perrault drove opponents crazy and seemed pretty durable overall as a winger despite the back issues. I suspect that most players who went after him paid with their soft parts at some point -- he had some fancy stickwork.

Man I loved me some Prime Matty P. He was one of those players you always wanted on your team because he was so sneaky good and pesty.

He should without a question out-perform roslovic, b/c i don't think roslovic is really a consistent or yearly top-6 caliber player. that's my point on boasting about pts/60 in a v small sample of games, esp. w/ top-end linemates nearly 90% of the time. he was solid this year don't get me wrong, and produced fine given his role. but would rather wait-and-see than start labelling him as comparable some of the game's best players. but i'm much more tempered with Jets prospects than i used to be a few years ago. whether he's C or not & any talks about a leash starts with the Jets actually playing him there for a legit amount of games.

 

[10Ducky10]

If he has an injury free season I can see the team wanting to extend him long term and I said elsewhere that I see him signing a 7 or 8 year deal before July 1st 2024.

We'll see what Overcharge has to say about that.

 

[LowLefty]

I swear if Perfetti was 1 inch taller that all the complaints about his size would immediately evaporate.

If he was 6' and 175lbs and was having issues finishing seasons due to injuries, you would likely hear it.
This isn't about pulling the smaller players out of the pile and laying into them -
More about how do we keep this guy in the lineup - he's very good and the team needs him in there - so what has to happen?

 

[LowLefty]

Health wise and games played for their size I would consider that the success I am referencing. I am not expecting Cole to be at a Norris trophy equivalent forward level or a league scoring title level but those players have done well in games played considering they are Cole’s size.

I just want him playing
In the end, I don't really care all that much about what others are doing in the league who might be his size and maybe at the same level of strength.
I want him healthy and finishing out the season - he hasn't been able to do that.
I know he's smart enough to avoid some the stuff that can cause the damage - but this is the NHL and he's going to get hit. If he comes into this next season healthy and stronger, he's well on his way -
Looking forward to it

 

[ps241]

I just want him playing
In the end, I don't really care all that much about what others are doing in the league who might be his size and maybe at the same level of strength.
I want him healthy and finishing out the season - he hasn't been able to do that.
I know he's smart enough to avoid some the stuff that can cause the damage - but this is the NHL and he's going to get hit. If he comes into this next season healthy and stronger, he's well on his way -
Looking forward to it

I am referencing size because that’s what it seems like some posters are pointing to as an issue when I don’t think it is since he’s not small.

We do align on wanting him in the line up but that goes for any Jet.

 

[DRW204]

I am referencing size because that’s what it seems like some posters are pointing to as an issue when I don’t think it is since he’s not small.

We do align on wanting him in the live up but that goes for any Jet.

NHL average size fwd is something like 6'0-6'1... Perfetti is listed 5'11. i know every inch may matter to the females, however i doubt most could even tell the difference if a 5'11 guy walked by vs a 6 ft guy.

now strength/muscle might be a diff. story.

 

[surixon]

With regards to injuries we don't even know if his last one was the result of being physically immature. He indicated it didn't come from any specific incident. It could have been a training incident that never healed and got more agitated for all we know.

 

[GeorgeJETson]

NHL average size fwd is something like 6'0-6'1... Perfetti is listed 5'11. i know every inch may matter to the females, however i doubt most could even tell the difference if a 5'11 guy walked by vs a 6 ft guy.

now strength/muscle might be a diff. story.

 

[DRW204]

How nhl coaches and gm's see height

 

[heilongjetsfan]

Ideally maybe you find a younger quicker guy than Nino but I think Nino plays well with the youngsters lol

Lambert's pretty young and quick. I'd like him in position to take up the extra minutes for the inevitable 20 or so games Perfetti and Ehlers are each going to miss.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

If he was 6' and 175lbs and was having issues finishing seasons due to injuries, you would likely hear it.
This isn't about pulling the smaller players out of the pile and laying into them -
More about how do we keep this guy in the lineup - he's very good and the team needs him in there - so what has to happen?

I think the point that some are making is that you are overemphasizing the size/strength factor. It is there, but it is not as big a factor as age and experience. Thus that list of young players of all sizes having similar issues.

What has to happen is that he needs to learn to play a safer game. Gaining some skating speed and quickness will help. And gaining a little muscle won't hurt either.

 

[LowLefty]

I think the point that some are making is that you are overemphasizing the size/strength factor. It is there, but it is not as big a factor as age and experience. Thus that list of young players of all sizes having similar issues.

What has to happen is that he needs to learn to play a safer game. Gaining some skating speed and quickness will help. And gaining a little muscle won't hurt either.

Over emphasizing? If so, it wasn't intentional - just chiming in on an area he needs to work hard on.
You pretty much covered my opinion (in bold above) -

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Over emphasizing? If so, it wasn't intentional - just chiming in on an area he needs to work hard on.
You pretty much covered my opinion (in bold above) -

Not disagreeing that strength & weight is one path he could take that would help. He can't go to the gym and make himself taller.