Cole Perfetti will forever be remembered for scoring one of the most dramatic goals in Winnipeg Jets history. But for the Jets to finally take the next step as a franchise, they’ll need more than a single moment — they’ll need a season-long surge in production from their young forward.
On May 4, Perfetti etched his name into NHL lore when he scored with just 2.2 seconds left in regulation to tie Game 7 of the first-round series against the St. Louis Blues. The goal set a league record as the latest game-tying tally ever in a Game 7.
Winnipeg went on to win in double overtime, but the celebration would not last very long. The top-seeded Jets bowed out to Dallas in the second round, extending the club’s long search for its first Stanley Cup.
Now, with the 2025–26 season looming, Winnipeg is looking to build on last year’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning campaign and finally carry that dominance into the playoffs. For that to happen, Perfetti must deliver on the promise that made him the 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft.
Winnipeg Jets Look For Cole Perfetti to Take Next Step in Young NHL Career
Two seasons ago, Perfetti played in 71 games and finished with 19 goals and 19 assists. Last year, the young forward suited up for all 82 games and scored 18 goals with 32 assists.
According to Justin Giampetro of The Hockey Writers, this could be the year when the 23-year-old enters a new tier of NHL greatness.
In his series naming every team’s top breakout candidate, Giampetro tabbed Perfetti as the player most likely to make that leap for Winnipeg. Giampetro suggested that the team’s loss in free agency of forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who earlier this summer signed a six-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, “opens up a new opportunity” for Perfetti in his fifth NHL season.
“Perfetti has scored at about the same rate with Ehlers versus without him throughout his young career. So, although a star leaving for nothing isn’t ideal, it may not be that significant of a loss,” Giampetro explained. “Besides, Perfetti’s power-play and overall usage should see a bump. Averaging 15:11 of ice time last season and logging about one minute less per game than Ehlers on the man advantage, Perfetti is in line to receive more quality looks.”
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And Giampetro is not alone in that thinking. Jake Tye of The Hockey News similarly predicted that Perfetti will be able to take advantage of his move up the roster hierarchy.
“With an increased role and a projected bump in ice time to around 17 or 18 minutes per game, along with stronger linemates, Perfetti should find himself in an improved position to build on his recent success,” Tye opined.
Brady Chalus of the Winnipeg Jets Digest podcast also believes that Perfetti is on track for big things in 2025-26. Citing the offseason addition of veteran center Jonathan Toews, along with the fact that Perfetti is entering a contract year, Chalus said the pending restricted free agent has the chance to open a lot of eyes over the next eight-plus months.
“Everything is lining up for this guy to take a huge step this next year,” Chalus said.
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