Cole Perfetti Skates for the First Time Since Injury

On Saturday morning - ahead of the Winnipeg Jets' biggest game of the 2022-23 season - injured forward Cole Perfetti took to the ice for the first time since suffering an injury against the New Jersey Devils back on February 19.

Jets head coach Rick Bowness spoke to media following the skate, indicating that the rookie forward was just simply testing things out as he continues to work his way back from an upper-body injury.

"We will give him a couple weeks, he is going to need that," Bowness said. "He has missed a lot of time. So, I thought today was a light day for him. But as we go along we will increase the workload."

A week ago, Bowness made the announcement that Perfetti was behind schedule in his recovery. Initially given an eight-week timeframe following his official diagnosis on February 24, meaning he would have been in line for a return on or around the first week of the postseason.

“It’s hard to pinpoint to give an exact time,” Bowness said last week when asked if Perfetti was still on pace to return for the opening round. “It’s probably later than that.”

But Saturday's comments - paired with Perfetti's on-ice appearance - have provided somewhat of a more positive outlook on the short-term future of the 21-year-old.  

He has eight goals and 30 points in 51 games on the season, after putting up two goals and seven points in 18 games following his recall from the Manitoba Moose last year. 

“It’s awesome just having him in the room," Mark Scheifele said of his former linemate. "He’s one of my best friends on the team. I definitely missed him while he was away, and we missed him on the ice. It’s just awesome to have him around the room and know that he’s healthy, that he’s getting on the ice. It’s just awesome to have his little baby face back in the room.”

Since Perfetti last suited up, the Jets have gone 9-11-2 and have fallen from a comfortable playoff position to the final wild card spot in the West. Winnipeg faces Nashville on Saturday, before concluding its final homestand of the season with a test against the San Jose Sharks on Monday. 

"We just have to make sure we're playing in two weeks so we can use him," Bowness laughed. "I think that is the key here."