Cole Perfetti has quickly shifted his focus to the ice after inking a two-year bridge deal on Monday, Sept. 23 worth $3.25 million annually to end a contract stalemate.
“It’s just great to get that contract done and now it’s time to focus on hockey, so it’s a great feeling,” he said after his first on-ice session of training camp Tuesday.
Perfetti “Glad It’s Over With”
As a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract, this was Perfetti’s first experience negotiating a deal. There don’t appear to be any hard feelings between Perfetti and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff despite their talks taking a while. The Jets increased their initial offer, the Winnipeg Free Press reported, and Perfetti decreased his ask. Earlier this month, even when was unsigned, he represented the team on the NHL Media Tour in Las Vegas.
“You have to understand it’s a business and they’re not just going to give away money for no reason, that’s simple and everyone understands that,” Perfetti said. “Just trying not to take it personal. Obviously, you know where you stand compared to other guys and you obviously want to be in that range… it was definitely a learning process and I just say I’m glad it’s over with.”
Long-Term Contract “Would Have Been Great,” Perfetti Says
It wasn’t a matter of if Perfetti would sign, but when and for how long. While a bridge deal always seemed the most-likely option for the 2020 10th-overall pick, there was also potential for him to sign something longer term. Speculation he might do the latter only ramped up after youngsters Dylan Guenther (Utah Hockey Club), Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes), and Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings) all inked massive eight-year deals of in the past month.
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Perfetti expressed his love for the city and organization, adding he wants to be in Winnipeg long term. Discussing a long-term deal “wasn’t the direction we went,” Perfetti said, “but, yeah, it would have been great.”
Perfetti Feels He “100 Per Cent” Has Something to Prove in 2024-25
Perfetti had an up and down 2023-24, and that, along with his injury history, were factors that led to the “prove-it” deal. He set career highs in goals (19) and points (38) in 71 games but had a 23-game scoring drought in the back half and lost the second-line right-wing role he held for the first two thirds of…
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