Player Discussion: Cole Perfetti 10th OA pick

[Mortimer Snerd]

He was drafted 10AO as a center and we need to develop one in house. I say the kid is up to the task.

I'm going to take the optimistic path at this point. Why not?

If he is just killing it at C in TC and pre-season, does it affect Chevy's willingness to trade Scheifele? Or does it just solidify our top 6 C position? We would still have other options for another C with Scheif gone.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

The only reason he might not play centre is his size and strengh. Development wise I think he's already there.

I always like a C with size and strength. Jean Beliveau is my ideal C. 6'3 was a lot bigger in his day than it is now.
But there are several highly successful, smaller Cs right now, not to mention a few from the past (Gretzky). Effectiveness is all that matters.

 

[DRW204]

For the love of gawd allmighty I hope this kid can stay healthy. Uber talented and can't wait to see what he has in store for the upcoming season.

What do you think of the idea of him playing Center being less susceptible to hits? Or perhaps board battles with Nino and Ehlers with him

 

[Boonk]

What do you think of the idea of him playing Center being less susceptible to hits? Or perhaps board battles with Nino and Ehlers with him

If he’s stronger and faster like sources at the Jets training camp are saying, I’d start him as 2C behind Scheif and probably rotate him with Vilardi just to see what we have.

I think he’s capable, in the few games I caught of him live before he was injured he was just so dominant in the offensive zone as a young NHL rookie. Completely controlled it all around the boards and net. He kind of reminds me of Claude Giroux which is a pretty damn good player still and was a superstar in his prime. The speed and strength will come, the production will follow.

Ehlers - Scheifele - Niederreiter
Connor - Perfetti - Vilardi

- swap -

Perfetti - Scheifele - Ehlers
Connor - Vilardi - Niederreiter

 

[surixon]

I'm going to take the optimistic path at this point. Why not?

If he is just killing it at C in TC and pre-season, does it affect Chevy's willingness to trade Scheifele? Or does it just solidify our top 6 C position? We would still have other options for another C with Scheif gone.

My guess is Chevy will be even further convinced to go for it if Cole is killing it at C. Hard not to want to use the cap space at the deadline when you have your top 6 centers performing very well at a combined 7.5 million cap hit. He's not going to have that luxury again anytime soon.

If the forwards are killing it maybe he can go out and grab a high end RD to play with JoMo.

 

[FlappyGiraffe]

My guess is Chevy will be even further convinced to go for it if Cole is killing it at C. Hard not to want to use the cap space at the deadline when you have your top 6 centers performing very well at a combined 7.5 million cap hit. He's not going to have that luxury again anytime soon.

If the forwards are killing it maybe he can go out and grab a high end RD to play with JoMo.

I'm all for it if we're looking like we have a shot at the cup. I've always respected Columbus going for it with the Duchene trade while having Bob and Panarin as pending UFAs

 

[Whileee]

Perfetti was already fairly solid on his skates, but if he's added some strength then I don't see that holding him back much, considering his play style.

The more important variable for Perfetti was his skating / quickness. Early camp reports indicate that he's looking quite a bit quicker / faster. If so, I don't have any reservations about his hockey sense / skill combination. He has a high-end history as a producer at the junior and AHL level, and I think was a bit unlucky not to have produced more points last season due to the Jets' shooting slumps.

I could see a quicker, stronger Perfetti who gets plenty of PP time adding an additional 10-15 points per 82 games... that would take him to around a 60 point pace. That would be fine at 2C, if that first line with Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi scores as much as I think they might.

 

[Heldig]

So, if Perfetti is out for a while (yay, great start to the season), who takes his place? Namestnikov? Barf.

 

[surixon]

So, if Perfetti is out for a while (yay, great start to the season), who takes his place? Namestnikov? Barf.

? He's healthy and practicing with his regular linemates. He suffered no injury on that hit, or did something happen in camp today that I'm not aware of?

 

[Heldig]

? He's healthy and practicing with his regular linemates. He suffered no injury on that hit, or did something happen in camp today that I'm not aware of?

He is listed as day to day, is he not?

 

[RustyCat]

? He's healthy and practicing with his regular linemates. He suffered no injury on that hit, or did something happen in camp today that I'm not aware of?

Yesterday at practice he was wearing a regular jersey and working with Pionk, Ehlers,and Nino on what I presume to be be PP set ups. Only Schmidt was in the yellow jersey and not participating. All signs point to Perfetti being fine.

 

[KingBogo]

He is listed as day to day, is he not?

Not any more.

 

[surixon]

He is listed as day to day, is he not?

It was all precautionary. He's fine and will likely be playing tomorrow.

 

[KingBogo]

It was all precautionary. He's fine and will likely be playing tomorrow.

Yeah, he dodged a bullet with that predatory cheap shot. Really looking forward to watching his next development step this season. I think this is the season we see how high his ceiling is.

 

[surixon]

Yeah, he dodged a bullet with that predatory cheap shot. Really looking forward to watching his next development step this season. I think this is the season we see how high his ceiling is.

I'm expecting a similar transition to when he moved to center in The AHL a couple years back. Will take 5 to 10 games to get his bearing and then he took off.

 

[bustamente]

Whether at centre or wing I expect Perfetti to take more steps forward in his progression. He by no means is a finished product with what I think is a high ceiling. Of course he needs to stay healthy.

 

[BoneDocUK]

I'm expecting a similar transition to when he moved to center in The AHL a couple years back. Will take 5 to 10 games to get his bearing and then he took off.

Yep. That's been his MO since I've been watching him. Steady, under the radar as he learns the new level / set of responsibilities, then hits equilibrium, and finally starts to take off.

 

[slurpee addict]

I’m unconvinced that he has the physical size and strength to stay healthy. I wish it were otherwise, but sadly I just don’t see it.

 

[EpicGingy]

I’m unconvinced that he has the physical size and strength to stay healthy. I wish it were otherwise, but sadly I just don’t see it.

He's listed as 184lbs at 5'11 on NHL.com. There are so many players in that size range that have no problem staying healthy.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

He's listed as 184lbs at 5'11 on NHL.com. There are so many players in that size range that have no problem staying healthy.

If he's going to stay healthy, he has to develop more awareness than he showed in the Flames game. That Pospisil hit came about because he was busy admiring the beauty of his dump-in and veered without looking into a larger player's path. Sure, Pospisil was a prick for giving him a cheap shot (although I think it fell short of predatory as some have called it) but like it or not, the league is full of guys who look forward to such opportunities and will take advantage of them with relish. Bigger players can get away with such mistakes, smaller players need to have their head on a swivel and a healthy sense of paranoia.

 

[BoneDocUK]

If he's going to stay healthy, he has to develop more awareness than he showed in the Flames game. That Pospisil hit came about because he was busy admiring the beauty of his dump-in and veered without looking into a larger player's path. Sure, Pospisil was a prick for giving him a cheap shot (although I think it fell short of predatory as some have called it) but like it or not, the league is full of guys who look forward to such opportunities and will take advantage of them with relish. Bigger players can get away with such mistakes, smaller players need to have their head on a swivel and a healthy sense of paranoia.

I think he'll keep developing that awareness as he plays more regularly at centre, just as he did in the A, but yeah. a little paranoia never hurts in the NHL. Even when you're Mark "The Champ" Stone.

 

[slurpee addict]

He's listed as 184lbs at 5'11 on NHL.com. There are so many players in that size range that have no problem staying healthy.

I agree that many others have excelled when playing at that size. I sure hope his recent history isn't an indicator of future outcomes. I would also say that NHL.com and the 'size' of players has Trump-like accuracy and truth.

 

[Cnile]

I agree that many others have excelled when playing at that size. I sure hope his recent history isn't an indicator of future outcomes. I would also say that NHL.com and the 'size' of players has Trudeaunian -like accuracy and truth.

 

[DRW204]

Some discussion on Perfetti on 32 Thoughts

- Friedman references to Leo Carlsson in Anaheim in regards to the GM and player/agent communication on the plan and path for him. Mentions it is critical (my own words here) that there's communication between the team player and agent on his role and TOI, and what the players will have to do in order to earn more ice time or change their situation.

- Says as since the Jets are doing well and winning as of late so its hard to argue or not be selfish.

- Marek mentions he's a top 10 pick and the team invested so much and they need to be sensitive to him and make sure they're doing things for him to become a big part in the future as some Jets age out and get older. Friedman chimes in and says basically its all communication on the plan - references Verbeek and Carlsson+his agent on this is the plan for Leo Carlsson and they were on board however, as the season progresses things may change.

 

[BoneDocUK]

Some discussion on Perfetti on 32 Thoughts

- Friedman references to Leo Carlsson in Anaheim in regards to the GM and player/agent communication on the plan and path for him. Mentions it is critical (my own words here) that there's communication between the team player and agent on his role and TOI, and what the players will have to do in order to earn more ice time or change their situation.

- Says as long as the Jets are doing well as of late so its hard to argue, and not be selfish.

- Marek mentions he's a top 10 pick and invested so much and they need to be sensitive to him and make sure they're doing things for him to become a big part in the future as some Jets age out and get older. Friedman chimes in and says basically its all communication on the plan - references Verbeek and Carlsson+his agent on this is the plan for Leo Carlsson and they were on board however, as the season progresses things may change.

Would only add that, while they spoke positively about his production, don't think either mentioned his strong overall play. Only note it because I think it's the obvious pundit equation, young + small + playmaker = production and not much more at this point.

I think the argument is that Perfetti is in fact bringing more, and playing pretty much like a coach's dream of a young player on an increasingly strong line, and he's doing all that at 10 minutes or so per game while 55 + 81 are getting caved in with heavy minutes, despite 55's strong play.

But it's early doors, Cole's a smart kid, and the team are winning. Plenty of time to iron things out and not default into still that more conservative playstyle and line minutes share we've seen so often with this team when the going gets tougher.