Jets’ Cole Perfetti to make regular-season debut against Ducks
Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel told reporters ahead of Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks that forward Cole Perfetti will be making his 2025-26 NHL regular-season debut.
Now that's worth smiling about 😊
Cole Perfetti will make his season debut tonight in Anaheim! pic.twitter.com/xJP3lBJ5Uo
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 9, 2025
The 23-year-old Perfetti has been out since the Jets’ Oct. 3 preseason game against the Calgary Flames. After delivering a hit on Flames’ defender Kevin Bahl in the second period, Perfetti appeared to fall awkwardly and did not return to the game.
Here’s the end of Perfetti’s last shift as shown by the TSN broadcast.
🤷🏼♂️ https://t.co/fHFpWqtS2x pic.twitter.com/ZOP4L5SYpg
— Connor Hrabchak (@ConnorHrabchak1) October 4, 2025
Perfetti scored 18 goals and recorded 32 assists for 50 points in the 2024-25 season, setting career highs for both assists and points. Through five NHL seasons, the Whitby, Ont., native has 47 goals and 78 assists for 125 points in 222 career regular-season games.
He’s also recorded three goals and three assists for six points in 14 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Perfetti has one year remaining on a two-year, $6.5 million contract signed ahead of the 2024-25 season, earning $3.25 million.
Taken No. 10 overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Perfetti spent two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit, scoring 74 goals and 110 assists for 184 points in 124 regular-season games. His best season came in 2019-20, finishing with 37 goals and 74 assists for 111 points.
Internationally, Perfetti represented Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championship, scoring twice and adding four assists for six points in seven games.
Going into Sunday night, the Jets are 9-5-0 with 18 points through 14 games. Mark Scheifele leads the team in all offensive categories, with nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points.