DRAFT: Cole Perfetti Profile

As part of our Road to the Draft content series, NewJerseyDevils.com will be profiling the top North American and European Skaters eligible for the upcoming 2020 NHL Draft. This will allow Devils and hockey fans at large to familiarize themselves with the next class of NHL talent. We now take a look at Saginaw forward Cole Perfetti.

AGE: 18

COUNTRY: Canada

HEIGHT: 5'11

WEIGHT: 177 lbs

POSITION: Forward

SHOOTS: Left

DRAFT YEAR PRODUCTION: 61 GP, 37 G, 74 A, 111 P

The Devils currently sit in the seventh spot with their first pick of the first round in the upcoming 2020 NHL Draft. That puts them near the top of the second tier of prospects but still allows them an opportunity to pick a potentially elite and impactful player.

As Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald likes to say, it is his job to pick the player with the highest ceiling with these types of picks. One of the options with a high ceiling who could in theory be around at seven is Cole Perfetti.

WHAT'S THE BUZZ

"When you're playing with Cole, you better be thinking about plays that could potentially be there because he already is. And if you're not thinking there's a possibility there, you're going to miss an opportunity because Cole is always two or three steps ahead."

- TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button

CUT TO THE CHASE

Perfetti ranks as NHL Central Scouting's fifth North American skater. The center, who could also play left-wing, dominated the Ontario Hockey League. He was second in the league in scoring with 111 points, including 37 goals.

In 2018-19, Perfetti was OHL First All-Rookie Team and scored the most goals of any rookie (37) and most points (74). Last season, he was CHL Scholastic Player of the Year, OHL Scholastic Player of the Year, and won silver at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

"Puck skills, vision, and execution are on another level," said NHL Central Scouting. "Has incredible hockey IQ and feel for the game. A major threat every time he is on the ice. Just as dangerous as a goal scorer or playmaker. Makes his teammates better."

NHL Central Scouting likens Perfetti to Edmonton's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as a prospect. Nugent-Hopkins was taken first overall in 2011 and has scored more than 22 goals each of the last three seasons, despite only playing one full year in one of those campaigns. He is largely seen as a very intelligent and excellent two-way player.

Bob McKenzie, whose list of top prospects is widely respected, has Perfetti as fifth overall.

We recently spoke with TSN's Director of Scouting Craig Button for an upcoming episode of the Speak of the Devils podcast. The former NHL GM was very high on Perfetti, calling him "a brilliant left-winger" and comparing him to New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin.

"There's not a lot of fanfare to his game," said Button. "He's not going to be the flash-and-dash player that's going to wow you while going end-to-end, but like Artemi Panarin… When you watch Panarin, he's not big, but Artemi shows up in the right places at the right times, always. He knows where to pass the puck, he knows how to get one. He doesn't engage unnecessarily early on an opponent's terms."

Button is especially impressed with Perfetti's recognition of the best way to make an impact, a crucial discovery for players who are a bit smaller than their opponents.

"I always tell young players, if you're not a big player, why do you want to go take on a bigger player that's stronger than you, that's going to overwhelm you? Don't do it. Know what your strengths are now, play to your strengths. Cole does that exceptionally well, like Artemi Panarin, and you know his mind is two, three steps ahead. So when you're playing with Cole, you better be thinking about plays that could potentiallybe there because he already is. And if you're not thinking there's a possibility there, you're going to miss an opportunity because Cole is always two or three steps ahead. And his understanding of what seems kind of innocent or innocuous quickly becomes something that's an advantage."

While Perfetti doesn't wow you with his measurable in terms of size or strength, his mind is the asset that makes him a dangerous offensive player and puts him on the path to becoming an impactful NHL player for many years.

"For me, there are a lot of players that skate faster, shoot harder. But if you can't process the game quickly, I don't care how big your computer is," said Button. "I don't care how flashy your keyboard is. I don't care how all the bells and whistles you have on your computer. If the processor is weak, those bells and whistles don't matter. The processor on Cole Perfetti is outstanding in hockey sense. When I do my grades, we grade on a 1-5 scale five being the highest. I'll tell you how good I think Cole Perfetti is. I gave him a six."

That sounds really good.