The Winnipeg Jets are going to make some changes this offseason and forward Cole Perfetti may be someone who is on their way out. He is a RFA without a contract, so the Jets will have the opportunity to trade his rights.

According to published reports, Perfetti's name has been popping up around the NHL and it looks like he is a target by teams and could be getting shopped.

The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the clubs that should be very interested as they are trying to build something around Connor Bedard. Perfetti might be a great complementary piece that fits into the high-speed, high-compete style general manager Kyle Davidson says he wants.

Perfetti, the Jets' first-round draft pick in 2020 (10th overall) is a skilled young player who's around the age where the Blackhawks could benefit greatly from acquiring him and holding onto him — as long as it doesn't create a salary cap issue down the line. The OHL product from Whitby, Ontario is just 22 years old and will be headed into his third full NHL season.

The center/left wing played 71 games last season and scored 19 goals and 38 points, but played 51 games due to injuries in 2022-23, his rookie year. That was after an 18-game trial run in 2021-22.

Perfetti's first contract, with an AAV of $1,627,500, has expired. He's not arbitration eligible.

You may see Perfetti's numbers from last season and think it's odd the Jets would be willing to move him, but his splits and usage were a bit concerning. He began the season with 14 goals and 29 points in 40 games, but scored just one goal and three points in the following 26 games. During one 15-game stretch starting in Jan. 20, 2024, Perfetti had no points and was a minus-6.

He ended the regular season on a better note, with five goals and seven points in the last eight games.

In Winnipeg's five-game series loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs, Perfetti dressed just once and he played under 11 minutes in the game.

At times last season Perfetti was playing on the second line until his offensive struggles. He has the potential and if the Jets are open to moving him, the talented young center fits the bill of what Chicago could use.

Rick Bowness, the Jets coach who just retired, could be hesitant to trust younger players. He bluntly criticized Perfetti and reduced his the ice time in February. The 69-year-old Bowness said Perfetti — and 28-year-old Nikolaj Ehlers — weren't managing the puck effectively, leading to insufficient offense generation.

Incoming Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel may offer both forwards a fresh perspective, however. Perfetti has said he's looking forward to the coaching switch.

Both Perfetti and Ehlers could fit in with the Blackhawks. See Davidson in the following video.

Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson talks about the possibility of trading draft picks.

But looking at the Blackhawks, it might not reasonable to ask Jason Dickinson to be the second line center again. His role is perfect for the third line to shut opponents down. The second line needs someone like Perfetti who could step into that center role or be utilized on the wing if that suits the Blackhawks next year or in the future. There are options and Chicago has more than enough prospects and picks to get a deal done.

Perfetti's cost to another team won't be low, but it won't be at its peak because of how the back half of the season went in Winnipeg. While a couple of veterans should be brought in to Chicago, that doesn't mean that the Blackhawks won't hunt for younger players that they can build around as well. A trade of this magnitude at the draft could be in store.

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