Don Sweeney and Cam Neely have both said the Boston Bruins need to add speed and skill this offseason. They took a notable step in that direction Friday night, acquiring winger JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for two first-round picks.
The two first-round picks going to Utah are Boston's own 2026 first-round pick (23 overall) and Florida's 2028 first-round pick, originally acquired in the Brad Marchand trade. The 2028 pick is top-10 protected, meaning the Bruins can choose to keep it if it lands in the top 10. They would then send Utah their own, unprotected 2029 first-round pick instead.
Peterka, 24, had 25 goals and 47 points this past year in what will be his only season in Utah. The year before, he had a career-high 68 points (27g, 41a) with the Buffalo Sabres.
Peterka is signed through the 2029-30 season with a $7.7 million cap hit. He will be 28 when that deal expires.
Peterka, originally a second-round pick of Buffalo in 2020, is an excellent skater who is dangerous off the rush. He has a very good shot and is more of a natural goal-scorer, although his 41 assists two years ago showcased some playmaking ability as well. Peterka is also a highly competitive player with a great motor who can be a pain when battling for pucks.
Peterka is also German, so there is a natural connection there with Bruins head coach Marco Sturm, the only German head coach in NHL history. Peterka never played for Sturm internationally, but he represented Germany at the Olympics this year, posting four points in five games, as well as three IIHF World Championships. Defense has been a question mark for Peterka, so there may be work to do there for him to be a fit in Sturm's system.
The expectation will be for Peterka to immediately slot into the Bruins' top six, where he can play left or right wing as a left-handed shot. He'll add an element of speed and skill with the puck on his stick that was lacking in Boston's forward group as a whole -- a skill set that rookie James Hagens could also help address.
JJ Peterka, reportedly acquired by BOS, is a top six rushing winger with a great release, slick hands, and nice timing off the puck. Rounded his game out a bit this season but there might have been too many cooks for him to be as impactful offensively as in the past. pic.twitter.com/MYxku5vUjv
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 26, 2026
