Top prospects for Winnipeg Jets

NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, the top five prospects for the Winnipeg Jets, according to NHL.com.

Jets 32 in 32: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown]

1. Cole Perfetti, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 10 pick in 2020 NHL Draft
Last season: Winnipeg (NHL): 18 GP, 2-5-7; Manitoba (AHL): 17 GP, 6-9-15
Perfetti (5-foot-11, 177 pounds) was called up to the NHL twice in 2021-22, including a 16-game stretch when the 20-year-old played top-six and power play minutes before a back injury ended a promising rookie season.
"A great mix of skill and hockey sense, that's what's going to make him a great player," Winnipeg director of amateur scouting Mark Hillier said. "He can adjust his game to play with good players, play in different situations, play either center or wing. He's a power play-type player who is really creative with the puck and has great instincts. Give him time, and he just does some special things on the ice that very few players at any level can do."
Projected NHL arrival: This season

2. Ville Heinola, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 20 pick in 2019 NHL Draft
Last season: Winnipeg (NHL): 12 GP, 0-5-5; Manitoba (AHL): 41 GP, 5-21-26
The 21-year-old already has four pro seasons under his belt, three in North America. Heinola (5-11, 178) has impressed in three World Junior tournaments, including most recently in 2021 when he was one of two defensemen selected to the Media All-Star Team.
"I have high hopes for Ville," Hillier said. "His hockey IQ is his best asset. He's got a lot of skill. I think he can potentially run a power play one day. In today's game, it's all about going back getting pucks and moving it up the ice, and that's what he does really well. He can escape pressure really well and makes a great first pass."
Projected NHL arrival: This season

3. Chaz Lucius, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 18 pick in 2021 NHL Draft
Last season: Minnesota (NCAA): 24 GP, 9-10-19
Lucius (6-1, 185) has battled injuries over the past two seasons, including an ankle that required surgery in February that ended his freshman season with the University of Minnesota.
The 19-year-old has options this season. Lucius is eligible to play for Portland in the Western Hockey League, Manitoba in the American Hockey League, or he could potentially play for the Jets.
"There really hasn't been a lot of time the last two years to put a lot of time in the weight room with his injuries, so that's a thing he can improve on," Hillier said. "The instincts and the skill and all those things are there.
"He'll be at training camp. If they think he's ready to play pro, he'll play pro. … It's just important he plays a lot of games, a lot of important and critical minutes in offensive situations where he's a top-two-line guy and a power-play guy. His training camp will determine where he's ready to play."
Projected NHL arrival: 2024-25

4. Rutger McGroarty, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 14 pick in 2022 NHL Draft
Last season: USA U-18 (NTDP): 25 GP, 15-18-33
McGroarty (6-1, 200) is the first player from the state of Nebraska to play for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Named the most valuable player of the 2022 BioSteel All-American Game, McRoarty impressed the Jets during the draft interview process.
"He plays the game hard, and he answers the questions hard," Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said. "It's one of those things that again, as an organization, drafting a player with those kinds of attributes is exciting."
Projected NHL arrival: 2024-25

5. Dylan Samberg, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 43 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
Last season: Winnipeg (NHL): 15 GP, 0-5-5; Manitoba (AHL): 32 GP, 0-12-12
Samberg has the size (6-3, 190), strength and toughness every NHL GM covets in a defenseman. He has a skillset that complements a simple and straightforward style of game, but the 23-year-old finds himself among a deep pool of defensemen prospects in the Jets' system.
"When he played last year, he was quite confident and actually even looked better maybe in a Jets uniform than he did in a Moose uniform, which is interesting," Hillier said. "There's players ahead of him and that's going to sort itself out in training camp."
Projected NHL arrival: 2023-24