Player Discussion: Cole Perfetti 10th OA pick

[TS Quint]

They'd be smart to break up the top line. They have gotten and will get brutalized against top teams in playoffs.
That's why Arniel took a look last game at Iafallo on the top line and Vilardi with Ehlers.

They were the only line that scored in the playoffs last year.

 

[Xavier Laflamme]

I actually think Perfetti may have bulked up more in the upper body to take more contact, which has slowed him down a little. And you can't really lose that weight once you start playing. It's offseason when the change will come.

I'm not in the camp of trading him though because I see this team being potentially liquidated in the offseason. There's 30 teams that would like to have the same status as the Jets, and they have the financial means to improve by poaching them. That's what Chevy will have to contend with.

He did definitely bulk up, I recall him talking about it early in the season, and yes it has slowed him down which is a problem because he was already a poor skater who lacked speed and yet his extra bulk hasn't really helped him either. Definitely needs to find a balance but overall he needs to work on his skating, it's quite poor.

I'm hoping Fetts settles in long term with Yager, couple of good Team Canada boys. I'd love to see Yager in that spot as early as next year. He looked like a Bryan Little type center in TC.

Yager is definitely not making the team next year, not unless he just completely destroys pre season and even then I probably wouldn't bet on it, he will start with the Moose.

Perfetti is still very young and i would hate to give up on him but if he can be put in a deal for Barzal i would like that very much.

I still think Cozens is the more likely target, I don't see Barzal happening with his 22 team NTC (LOL well done Lou) and that's assuming they even trade him which I doubt, once Nelson goes they will need to slot in Barzal back at centre to replace him.

 

[TS Quint]

Perfetti is still very young and i would hate to give up on him but if he can be put in a deal for Barzal i would like that very much.

23 isn't very young. 23 is the age you need to stop prefacing his age with "only". Especially when I'm not sure if he has earned a spot in the line up at all at this point in the year. If he wasnt 23 and a high draft pick, i dont think he would be playing. Next year he's 24 that's not very young or young at all any more that's supposed to be primetime for offensive players. Then he needs a new contract. This year is the last bus stop he gets to watch go by. Next year for me it's figure it out offensively or find a way to be an NHL player another way.

 

[Buffdog]

23 isn't very young. 23 is the age you need to stop prefacing his age with "only". Especially when I'm not sure if he has earned a spot in the line up at all at this point in the year. If he wasnt 23 and a high draft pick, i dont think he would be playing. Next year he's 24 that's not very young or young at all any more that's supposed to be primetime for offensive players. Then he needs a new contract. This year is the last bus stop he gets to watch go by. Next year for me it's figure it out offensively or find a way to be an NHL player another way.

If Cole had a normal development path, this would likely only be his second NHL season (maybe third)

 

[TS Quint]

If Cole had a normal development path, this would likely only be his second NHL season (maybe third)

In a normal development path would be earning his spot too.

 

[Jet]

Do people prefer Vilardi with Connor/Scheifele or Ehlers / Lowry?

I think it's too early to say. The good thing about the 55 81 pair is that they seem to be fine with whomever is on the wing with them. I'd love to see Ehlers and Vilardi with a center acquired by trade, a guy with some size and speed. Ehlers and Vilardi should work if Gabe consistently gets to the front of the net with those filthy hands and tip ability.

 

[Jet]

I am skeptical of some analytics, I'll always be one of those posters that doesn't trust everything about them. From the time he was with Dubois to this point where he has been demoted, it's been mostly offensive zone starts, home ice he's in a 3rd line matchup situation. So he should be decent analytically with those two things in his favour, and for the past two seasons, the Ehlers effect, which is generally positive in shot metrics.

I actually think Perfetti may have bulked up more in the upper body to take more contact, which has slowed him down a little. And you can't really lose that weight once you start playing. It's offseason when the change will come.

I'm not in the camp of trading him though because I see this team being potentially liquidated in the offseason. There's 30 teams that would like to have the same status as the Jets, and they have the financial means to improve by poaching them. That's what Chevy will have to contend with.

I'm hoping Fetts settles in long term with Yager, couple of good Team Canada boys. I'd love to see Yager in that spot as early as next year. He looked like a Bryan Little type center in TC.

And so the lineup looks something like

Connor-Scheif-Valardi
Perfetti-Yager-?
Nino-Lowry-?
Barron-Kupari/Gus-?

The missing pieces either come from inside (like Chibrikov/Lambert/Ford) or outside through trade, or players re-signed.

I'll go a step further and say that I'd like to see Heinola and Perfetti start to become a force on the 2nd PP, as Heinola too grows through the learning curve.

That the Jets don't abandon their young players, but give them time to grow into pros, and learn what it takes, because this team is going to need some young talent sooner than later. And they are going to need some chemistry from those young players. Perfetti and Chibrikov didn't look so out of place when they were given a chance.

I just don't see this liquidation happening. Schiefele, Connor, Helle, Morrissey are all still in their primes. I think Pionk is nearly a guaranteed re-sign. Who other than Ehlers is at risk of leaving?

It really sucks that Chibby got hurt - I hate to see his development get stalled. He wasn't lighting the world on fire with the Moose but every indication has been that he could be an NHL player this year if the Jets had a spot for him.

I'm on the fence about my feelings about Perfetti's future. At this point I am open to dealing him for another young player as his struggles seem to be mental and some guys never figure out how to overcome that. However, I've also seen him play how he's capable and that's enticing.

What the Jets are missing in their top 6 is a physicality with size AND skill. Vilardi is big but he's not fast or physical. Schiefele is probably the closest we have to that and he's not overly physical, though he does use his body very well offensively.

Then you have a bunch of smaller guys. Nothing wrong with it but it seems a bit out of balance, especially when you're battling a team with size and speed.

 

[Jets 31]

He did definitely bulk up, I recall him talking about it early in the season, and yes it has slowed him down which is a problem because he was already a poor skater who lacked speed and yet his extra bulk hasn't really helped him either. Definitely needs to find a balance but overall he needs to work on his skating, it's quite poor.

Yager is definitely not making the team next year, not unless he just completely destroys pre season and even then I probably wouldn't bet on it, he will start with the Moose.


I still think Cozens is the more likely target, I don't see Barzal happening with his 22 team NTC (LOL well done Lou) and that's assuming they even trade him which I doubt, once Nelson goes they will need to slot in Barzal back at centre to replace him.

Party pooper......

 

[Xavier Laflamme]

Party pooper......

Oh damn my bad homie, I meant that we will definitely get Barzal, Cozens too, shit I even hear that Rantanen and Marner are coming here in the off season.

 

[TS Quint]

I just don't see this liquidation happening. Schiefele, Connor, Helle, Morrissey are all still in their primes. I think Pionk is nearly a guaranteed re-sign. Who other than Ehlers is at risk of leaving?

It really sucks that Chibby got hurt - I hate to see his development get stalled. He wasn't lighting the world on fire with the Moose but every indication has been that he could be an NHL player this year if the Jets had a spot for him.

I'm on the fence about my feelings about Perfetti's future. At this point I am open to dealing him for another young player as his struggles seem to be mental and some guys never figure out how to overcome that. However, I've also seen him play how he's capable and that's enticing.

What the Jets are missing in their top 6 is a physicality with size AND skill. Vilardi is big but he's not fast or physical. Schiefele is probably the closest we have to that and he's not overly physical, though he does use his body very well offensively.

Then you have a bunch of smaller guys. Nothing wrong with it but it seems a bit out of balance, especially when you're battling a team with size and speed.

Vilardi spends the whole game playing physical. He uses his body more than any Jet. He lives in front of the net and on the boards.

 

[DRW204]

He probably scores tonight

 

[Jet]

Vilardi spends the whole game playing physical. He uses his body more than any Jet. He lives in front of the net and on the boards.

I think his boardwork is good but I wouldn't classify him as phyiscal. He doesn't really hit much, he doesn't drive the net.

 

[Adam da bomb]

They'd be smart to break up the top line. They have gotten and will get brutalized against top teams in playoffs.
That's why Arniel took a look last game at Iafallo on the top line and Vilardi with Ehlers.

They might be smart to try things, but, I’m so used to certain configurations I believe there is no chance of it happening till it’s happened for a longer period.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Why not give Cole an audition on the top line?

 

[AtomicJets]

What about Perfetti-Kupari-Vilardi? Their names all end in the letter i. We could call them the Three-i Monster

 

[BobTheSolarsystem]

It's the worst nickname this place has ever come up with

Lets try 'vildo' instead

 

[Gm0ney]

In a normal development path would be earning his spot too.

He put up 0.59 points/game as a 21 year old (48 point pace).

I think a lot of Perfetti's struggles are related to him not having a Top 6 quality center for the last two years. He did fine with Scheifele and Dubois at age 21. He has stagnated with Namestnikov the last two years. He and Ehlers don't jibe either. So when you're stuck on line where you're not scoring, your center isn't scoring, and you're not on the same page as the other winger, I don't think it's a surprise.

The only two Top 6 wingers this organization have ever developed, Connor and Ehlers, got either Little or Scheifele when they were coming up. I guess Laine could be included - but he pretty much arrived developed (and also had Scheifele, Little or Stastny as his centers).

 

[Adam da bomb]

They'd be smart to break up the top line. They have gotten and will get brutalized against top teams in playoffs.
That's why Arniel took a look last game at Iafallo on the top line and Vilardi with Ehlers.

To add to your point maybe breaking up kc and Schief might get them both going as they are in a mini slump. Force them to simplify their games.

 

[Whis]

This twitter thread with words from Arniel has basically summed up what I've seen from Cole. Sure, the points aren't coming but he's playing good hockey and that's fine. Especially when the staff told him these were the main areas he needed to work on. Now he's showing the significant improvement in those areas. Game just needs to blend and he will keep progressing. He is a MUCH better hockey player this year.

 

[TS Quint]

Why not give Cole an audition on the top line?

Hey Cole , you have sucked the bag how about a promotion? LOL. This team doesn’t revolve around him. He gets what he earns.