Winnipeg Jets take centre Cole Perfetti with 10th pick in NHL draft

The Winnipeg Jets have chosen Cole Perfetti with the 10th overall pick in the NHL draft.

The 18-year-old centre from Whitby, Ont., spent last season with the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit. He registered 111 points (37 goals and 74 assists) in 61 games.

Perfetti, five-foot-10 and 177 pounds, was ranked fifth among North American skaters in the NHL's final prospect rankings.

The pick was announced Tuesday by Crystal Hawerchuk, wife of Jets legend Dale Hawerchuk, who died in August following a long battle with stomach cancer.

"Our family would like to thank the Winnipeg Jets and all of Dale's loyal fans and friends for their love and support," she said. "I want you to know that he loved Winnipeg and always felt a special connection to the people of Manitoba. We both consider Winnipeg our home."

The Jets were awarded the 10th overall pick in the draft lottery after the Calgary Flames ousted a banged-up Winnipeg squad from the qualifying round of this year's playoffs.

Forward's Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine missed much of the series with injuries, and Bryan Little had been sidelined most of the season after suffering a perforated eardrum in early November.

The team was also thin on defence last year after losing Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba and Ben Chiarot in the off season. The problem grew when Dustin Byfuglien failed to report to training camp and eventually had his contract terminated.

Despite an early exit from this summer's playoffs, Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck was named the league's top goalie this season , taking home the Vezina Trophy.

Picking Perfetti is a bit of a break from tradition for the Jets, who have a penchant for drafting up-and-coming Finnish talent. Three of the team's last four top picks hail from the nation, including Laine, who the Jets took second overall in 2016.

Last year, Winnipeg chose defenceman Ville Heinola with the 20th overall pick.

The 19-year-old Finn played eight games for the Jets last season, registering one goal and four assists, before he was assigned to Lukko Rauma in the Finnish Liiga.

Winnipeg also owns picks No. 40, 133 and 164 in the draft, which will continue with rounds two through seven on Wednesday.

The first Manitoban to be selected in the draft was centre Seth Jarvis from Winnipeg, who was taken 13th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes. Jarvis racked up 98 points (42 goals, 56 assists) last season with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.