On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets announced it has signed restricted free-agent forward Cole Perfetti to a five-year, $30 million contract extension.
The new deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $6.0 million, keeping the 24-year-old playmaker in Winnipeg through the 2030-31 season.
FETTS 🎉 FETTS 🎉 FETTS 🎉 FETTS 🎉 FETTS 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Dxp12atzvu
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 15, 2026
Following a brief contract holdout in 2024, Perfetti agreed to a two-year bridge deal worth $3.25 million annually. The Jets used that window to evaluate his transition into a full-time, top-six forward, and management has clearly seen enough to invest heavily in his future.
Perfetti's most recent 2025-26 campaign was hampered by early adversity. A high-ankle sprain suffered during the preseason sidelined him for the first 14 games, disrupting his rhythm. Despite the slow start on a heavily regressed Jets team that missed the postseason, Perfetti managed to tally 12 goals and 20 assists (32 points) in 68 games while setting a career-high in average ice time (15:37).
Originally selected 10th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Perfetti has already compiled 157 points in 290 career regular-season games.
According to PuckPedia, the Jets are currently operating with roughly $4.68 million in remaining cap space as they look to re-tool following a highly disappointing season.