Photo by: Luke Durda/OHL Images
Basic Player Overview
2019/2020 Team(s): Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Position: C/LW
Body Size: 5’10” / 185lbs
Handedness: Left
Introduction
Perfetti made a huge impact for the Saginaw Spirit this year and ended his season second overall in OHL scoring. Perfetti played a tremendous role on both the Saginaw Spirit and Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where Perfetti was able to finish the tournament with 8 goals and 12 points in just 5 games. Perfetti has a January 1st birthday, making him the oldest 2002-born draft-eligible for this draft. Perfetti is known to have a tremendous shot and genius-like hockey IQ. In his rookie season, Cole Perfetti was able to notch 37 goals and 74 points in just 63 games- while this season he was able to put up another 37 goals, he doubled his assists for an impressive 37-74-111 total.
Hockey IQ
Hockey IQ is something that commonly gets brought up with the name Cole Perfetti. An amazing talent in this genre, Perfetti can slow down and speed up the game when he wants and has terrific vision. Perfetti makes room for himself offensively and excels in the neutral and offensive side of the ice. Through viewings and clips on Perfetti, he enjoys making creative plays and passes to give his team chances or to set up scoring chances himself.
Puck Skills and Passing
Cole Perfetti’s puck skills and passing can be seen through his Hockey IQ. Cole Perfetti makes most of his passes tape-to-tape but misses his passes sometimes, either falling too far ahead of his teammate or too far behind. Perfetti has tremendous puck skills, however, and likes to use that to his advantage. He’s able to be slick and speedy, often fooling defensemen in the offensive end. Perfetti is also extremely talented in the shootout, where he was able to find the back of the net multiple times against Sweden in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Shot Quality and Utilization
Cole Perfetti had gained the nickname “Goal Perfetti” in his rookie season with Saginaw, due to his incredible shot. Although Perfetti can offer terrific passes and raw playmaking ability, he isn’t afraid to shoot the puck. Perfetti had a shooting percentage just over 15% and was able to fire some goals in from different areas in the offensive zone. However, it isn’t Perfetti’s power in his shot that scores the goals, as he has an average release, but it is his accuracy that really makes Perfetti’s shot dangerous. With Cole Perfetti not being shy at shooting the puck, he will be able to translate this area of his game to the NHL easily.
Physicality
Perfetti does not shy away from physical contact with his opponents, he has to work on finishing his checks. Perfetti needs to be able to follow through with his checks and pinning opponents on the boards, which he does do some of the time, but he gives up on finishing checks some of the time as well. Perfetti needs more intensity to his game and to work hard every shift if he wants to improve his game.
Skating
Perfetti has slightly above average skating in terms of OHL abilities, but his skating isn’t extremely impressive by any means. Making the jump to the NHL, Perfetti will have some troubles with his speed and his first few strides as this has become one of his flaws in his game.
DY Environment
Cole Perfetti spent most of his year playing centre and left wing on a line with DJ Busdeker and 2018 5th round Minnesota Wild pick, Damien Giroux, who recently signed his first NHL contract.
Statistics
Draft Rankings
#8- RecruitScouting
#4- HockeyProspect.com
#9- Future Considerations
#6- ISS Hockey
#8- McKeen’s Hockey
#7- EliteProspects
Expected Round of Selection
Cole Perfetti is expected to be taken within the first round, likely top 10 of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
NHL Comparable
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
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