Cole Perfetti isn’t worried about his status even as contract talks with the Winnipeg Jets have extended into September.
Despite being an unsigned RFA, Perfetti represented the Jets at the NHL’s media tour in Las Vegas and said talks between his representatives and the team are going well.
“Our side is working on a deal with them,” Perfetti said, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic and John Matisz of The Score. “We’re obviously positive something’s going to get done. Our groups are working hard together to figure something out. At this point, I want to be there.”
“I figured they wouldn’t ask me to come if (a contract wasn’t close),” he added. “At the same time, you never know.”
Perfetti, 22, is coming off a career year in which he appeared in 71 games for the Jets, scoring 19 goals and 19 assists. Despite the increase in production, Jets head coach Rick Bowness scratched Perfetti at times in favour of icing more experienced players. That included in the playoffs when Perfetti only appeared in Game 5 of a 4-1 series loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Bowness retired in the off-season and was replaced by Scott Arniel. Perfetti said he’s hoping to see his role increase under his new coach.
“New coach and then coming into a new contract, I think it’s (about) trying to take what I did last year, learn from all of it, and try to just take it as a positive,” Perfetti said. “Obviously, there were some ups and downs. It’s all part of the learning process, and I think every player has to go through that eventually. Now, hopefully that’s over with, done with, and I’m able to learn from that.”