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.
Don Sweeney on trading for new Bruin JJ Peterka: “Speed and skill. He’s got an elite shot. … We are trying to get deeper and add speed.” pic.twitter.com/9B6RVqL8Xj
— WEEI (@WEEI) June 27, 2026
The two 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.
Don Sweeney notes that JJ Peterka’s “age band is attractive.”
“I think he fits into a group of our players and bridges with the next wave of guys that we hope continue to develop.”
Also says they’re not necessarily out on re-signing Arvidsson. pic.twitter.com/3JJTHthiyl
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) June 27, 2026
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.
Part of Peterka's drop in production last year was that he got less power-play time than he was getting Buffalo. At 5-on-5, his 2.09 points per 60 minutes were pretty much right in line with his previous two seasons. That's a rate that would have ranked fourth on the Bruins behind Viktor Arvidsson (3.07), David Pastrnak (2.72) and Pavel Zacha (2.38) -- and just ahead of Morgan Geekie (2.08).
That said, Peterka himself was not satisfied with his play last season.
"No," he said via Zoom Saturday morning when asked if the lack of power-play time was to blame. "I think overall, when it comes down to that, I take full accountability. I wasn't happy with the way I was playing. I think I just have way more I can give."
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.
Peterka also played for new Bruins assistant coach Matt McIlvane as an 18-year-old with Red Bull Salzburg in 2020-21 in Austria's top pro league.
"Super good relationship," Peterka said of his connection to McIlvane. "We worked a lot on skating together and just skills to try to get me to the NHL. Since then, it's been an awesome, good relationship."
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.
