Cole Perfetti: 2020 NHL Draft Odds and Predictions

What a season in the OHL for Cole Perfetti. The Whitby, Ontario native is ranked number 5 North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting’s 2020 Draft Prospect Rankings.

The 5’10, 180 pounder is coming off back to back 37 goal season with the Saginaw Spirit. He was the Spirit’s fifth overall pick in the 2018 OHL priority draft and lived up to expectations scoring 74 points in his first season. He improved on those totals in his second season with 111 points in only 61 games, finishing second in the OHL in scoring between Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s.

Perfetti has outstanding hands and maybe the best hockey IQ in the OHL. One OHL scout described the standout, “He (Perfetti) combines his hands with his ability to make quick cuts and changes of direction, a general on the ice. He is dangerous in one-on-one situations whether it be working out of the cycle or coming in off the rush.”

Perfetti has an outstanding, powerful wrist shot with a quick release but his ability to see the play evolve has been key in his second OHL season. Perfetti usually plays the point on the Spirit power-play and doubled his assist production from year one to year two (37 in year one, 74 in year two).

Sportsnet CHL hockey analyst Sam Cosentino says Perfetti has “Creativity and offensive zone awareness complement elite goal-scoring acumen.”

There is some question about Perfetti’s size, although he’s proven not to be afraid of contact and playing physical in junior hockey. His eventual move to a fulltime NHLer will be interesting and will likely include gaining muscle in the next couple of years.

He was a late cut of the Canadian World Junior team but was outstanding at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with eight goals and 12 points in just five games.

Prediction:

5th overall – Ottawa Senators