Winnipeg Jets & RFA Cole Perfetti Finally Come to Terms

Despite the long delay in getting a deal done, the two sides had stayed on good terms, and the Winnipeg Jets were finally able to come to an agreement with restricted free agent Cole Perfetti on Monday. It's a bridge deal, at two years with a $3.25 million AAV.

Darren Dreger reports the Jets have signed Cole Perfetti to a bridge deal, two years at $3.25 million AAV.

This is good news for the Jets, who get a good cap hit and can get Perfetti back into the fold ASAP. It's solid for Perfetti, whose mission will be to crush that AAV.
— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) September 24, 2024

Perfetti will be a restricted free agent when the pact expires after the 2025-26 season, and if all goes well, a long-term deal can be broached at that point.

The 22-year-old, who was the Jets' 10th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, finished this past season with 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points in 71 games.

However, it was a tale of two seasons, as he racked up 14 of those goals and 30 points by mid-January. From there, he was mired in a 23-game goalless drought, and suffered through 11 healthy scratches, and four more in the playoffs.

Things should be much better under new head coach Scott Arniel, whose 17 games as interim bench boss while former head coach Rick Bowness was away featured much of Perfetti's success. It's now time for the young forward to take a big step forward, and he should get that opportunity with a full complement of top-six minutes, and likely a prominent role on the power play as well.

Reports are that Perfetti will immediately be ready to take part in the Jets' second practice session on Tuesday.