What JJ Peterka Will Bring to the Bruins

By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones

The Boston Bruins front office came into this offseason knowing they needed to upgrade the team’s forward group. As Bruins general manager, Don Sweeney understood Boston’s top six needed more skill and offensive firepower.

Earlier this week, the Bruins acquired JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for two first-round picks. One of them was the 2026 first-round pick, and the other was the 2028 first-round pick from the Florida Panthers, the stipulation being that the asset is top-ten protected.

Peterka was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. After spending three seasons in Buffalo, he was dealt to Utah last June. The 24-year-old winger will be entering his 5th NHL season.

In his first 320 games, Peterka has been quite productive offensively. He has potted 92 goals and dished out 105 assists. A few facets stand out in Peterka’s game.

He is a very productive offensive skater in five-on-five situations. 78 of his 92 goals have come at even strength. Peterka has had only one season with more than seven power play points, when he totaled 18 on the man advantage during his most fruitful offensive campaign. That output came in 2025, his last in Buffalo, when Peterka posted 68 total points.

Another key aspect of Peterka’s game has been consistency. In each of the past three seasons, the winger has lit the lamp at least 25 times. His career high for goals in a season was 28, which he hit in the 2024 season as a Sabre.

And lastly, Peterka has proven to be a durable NHL skater. Since becoming a full-time NHL player in 2023, he has skated in at least 77 games each season. Peterka has even played in all 82 contests in two of the last three campaigns.

There is a lot to like about bringing Peterka to Boston. His annual cap hit of $7.7 million over the next four seasons is reasonable for a young, skilled forward who has proven to be a productive and consistent NHL player. But it is also clear that Peterka can improve his game in Boston.

It will be interesting to see how Bruins Head Coach Marco Sturm utilizes Peterka. It would make sense to set him on a line with David Pastrnak, as those two could prove to be a dynamite offensive combination. But even if Peterka finds himself on another line a lot of the time, his offensive game will only improve if given a chance to be on the same power play unit as Pastrnak.

This is a mutually beneficial move for both the Bruins and Peterka. Boston is getting a goal-scoring forward who will, hopefully, become even more productive as he enters his prime years. And Peterka has the opportunity to play alongside a world-class offensive talent and carve out time on the Bruins’ power play if he earns the ice time.

This was a move Boston simply had to make if they want to return to the postseason again next season. And Peterka has a chance to solidify himself as a cornerstone of an NHL team after being traded in back-to-back offseasons. The acquisition makes sense on paper. Time will tell if the maneuver translates well on the ice.