Jets forward Cole Perfetti looks to prove his worth after signing bridge deal

Cole Perfetti is determined to make the bridge deal that he just signed with the Winnipeg Jets pay off with a more lucrative pact in the future.

The promising forward signed a two-year, $6.5 million US agreement on Monday, and now looks to break through after injuries and inconsistent play hampered his first three NHL seasons.

"You have two more years to prove yourself and go show what you can do on the ice," Perfetti said after his first practice at the Hockey For All Centre on Tuesday. "I'm going to use this year to try and take a big step with my game and hopefully, play as good as I can for this team and take that next step.

"A bridge deal is all about — I wouldn't say betting on myself — I would say I have two years to go prove what kind of player you are, what you can do for this organization. That's my goal every day, to just go and be the best player that I can be and revisit this in two years."

Perfetti was selected 10th overall by Winnipeg in 2020, but his first two seasons with the Jets were shortened by injuries.

Last year, the forward from Whitby, Ont., scored 19 goals and 38 points in 71 games. But, after a 23-game goalless drought, he became a healthy scratch for the last stretch of the season and the first four playoff games.

"Obviously, I wasn't too pleased with how it went personally for me down the stretch," said Perfetti, 22. "Last year, all things considered, was still a pretty decent year. I started off really strong and proved that I can produce in this league.

"Obviously, it didn't go like that the whole year, but I'm just going to use that as motivation, take the good from it and take the learning curve, and try to be the best that I can be."

Jets coach Scott Arniel was relieved to have Perfetti