The Sabres are listening to trade offers on winger JJ Peterka, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. While they’ve been reluctant to consider moving Peterka as his name popped up in trade speculation over the last few months, “their answer has changed” to teams inquiring about his availability, Friedman said on Sunday’s 32 Thoughts podcast.
“It’s believed he would like to go somewhere else, and I just think that reality is sinking in a bit,” Friedman said. “I think the Sabres realize they have to at least look into it, and I think in the last little bit it’s gone from ’we don’t want to do it and we’re not doing it’ to ’we don’t want to do it but we at least have to look into it.’”
Peterka, a pending restricted free agent, is also viewed as a legitimate offer-sheet target if he becomes an RFA without a new contract on July 1. An offer sheet AAV in the fifth tier of compensation between $7.02MM and $9.36MM, in line with Peterka’s projected cap hit on a long-term extension, per PuckPedia, would net the Sabres a team’s 2026 first, second, and third-round picks. If a trade crosses the finish line, the return would presumably come above that value, considering the Sabres are a virtual lock to recoup those assets in a worst-case scenario.
The Sabres’ top-nine forward group has been in constant flux over the past couple of years. They’ve acquired Ryan McLeod and Joshua Norris down the middle, graduated prospect Zach Benson to NHL duties out of the gate, and shipped out Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt, and 2022 top-10 pick Matthew Savoie in corresponding deals.
They find themselves in more unfamiliar territory with Peterka. Under general manager Kevyn Adams, the Sabres haven’t let negotiations with an RFA-to-be get to this point. They’ve either parted ways with hopeful core pieces after already signing them to long-term deals that weren’t panning out early on (Cozens) or traded them in-season in the final year of their contract with an advance understanding that they were far apart in talks (Mittelstadt). With Peterka, though, it doesn’t seem to be a case of the Sabres’ willingness to pay or commit to him – it’s the players’ uncertainty about signing long-term with the Sabres preventing a contract from getting done.
Buffalo has $23.2MM in cap space to spend this offseason with seven roster spots to fill, per PuckPedia. They have a pair of truly high-priced RFAs to contend with in Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram, and it looked early on that they may only be able to sign one of them. They’ve been more active in soliciting/listening to trade interest in Byram but could understandably be more incentivized to keep him if they get the sense the situation with Peterka won’t result in him staying in Buffalo.
A trade is far preferable to an offer sheet in terms of compensation for the Sabres, who need at least a top-nine winger in return for Peterka to help them shoulder his loss and keep their postseason hopes alive in 2025-26, in addition to potential UFA signings, as they aim to end their playoff drought at 14 seasons. Peterka, a 2020 second-round pick, scored a career-high 41 assists and 68 points last season to tie for second on the club in scoring. That’s not easily replaceable production, and they’ll need to perform significant roster surgery to compensate if they do end up moving him.
Focus on a RHD + defenseman prospect + draft pick in a return for Peterka. Quinn who had a strong 2nd half after missing his sophomore season due to injury can replace Peterka.
Kraken offer Oleksiak, Cale Fluery and a 2026 1st rd pick, the one we aquired.
They definitely don’t need Oleksiak… unless you throw in Byrum. I think a package that includes: Byram & Peterka for something involving Oleksiak, Tolvanen, a prospect other than Catton and some picks – first round picks – then I think there’s something there.
I would be surprised if Buffalo does a Byram/Peterka trade together.
I don’t know if I’d be surprised. It sounds like they want to move Byrum but are being forced to move Peterka. If they could leverage the two together that seems like an opportunity.
I’m not saying it should or would go down that way, but I don’t think that should be surprising.
TNT, Tuch, Norris & Zucker are a very good top 4.
McLeod, Quinn, Benson & Kulich gives Buffalo upside for secondary scoring. Adding a veteran forward on a short term contract to add to the secondary scoring. Buffalo should focus on keeping Byram, McLeod, Levi, Docker & Quinn (who will be cheaper to resign than Peterka). Plus Ostlund, Helenius & Rosen are prospects still in Rochester for depth.
It’s starting to look like the Sabres are trying to rebuild the rebuild, Getting rid of good players, And holding on to bad management in important positions is never a good idea. And they wonder why the fans complain, And why players around the league have no desire to play in Buffalo.
I think the Sabers want to keep Peterka, but I think his agent is making it clear that’s going to hurt.
No way would I pay Peterka more than TNT.
Hurricanes offer 2 of these 3: Blake, Nedeau, Morrow and a First.
CAR is not going to want to pay him 7/$7-8M that his agent seems to indicate is the price though. I know they offered a boatload to Rantanen, but the Canes owner is pretty tight-fisted with the bucks.
They’re going to throw $14m at Marner. They threw $4.5m at KK. He’d throw the money if he thinks they’ll win.
I like the thinking, but aren’t the Canes going after the big fish here? Aren’t those maybe the assets you package for someone “top tier”? I love Peterka, but I feel like if the Canes are going to go “big” it’s going to need to be a trade. I don’t think they’re getting Marner.
If a player won’t resign then you move him for a package to address other needs. If Buffalo wanted draft picks then they would wait on a offer sheet. Buffalo should add a Defenseman on top of some other assets to fill a need on this team. Byram & McLeod alone will cost Buffalo half of their avaliable cap space. I prefer keeping Byram over Peterka since top young Defenseman are harder to find. Buffalo has a lot of younger forwards that can replace Peterka’s scoring. Look at the NYR who are now trading away many of their forwards that were given extensions. Plus Byram played well and has a ring when playing for Colorado a few seasons ago.
I wouldn’t want to sign a contract with that garbage franchise either. The Buffalo Bills have just as much chance at winning hockey games as the Buffalo Sabres.
I will say it again as I have on many comment sections……
What is the goal of every professional sports team?
Which team is more successful?
A team that makes the playoffs 1 season out of 10 and wins a Stanley Cup.
Or
A team that makes the playoffs for 10 straight seasons but wins 1 or 2 playoff series?
Youngest team in hockey. Adams had to do another rebuild after his 1st year as GM. Buffalo went 32-24-3 after their 13 game winless stretch (0-10-3). Top 10 Offense. Deep forward prospect pool. Cozens was ineffective and Norris only played in 3 games after the trade deadline.
I can see the kings get in on this trade I’m sure we have a lot of young talent
…had a lot of young talent.
Peterka like Mitts probably wants to much money.
Cam York and the 6th pick from the Flyers? Would that even get a sniff from Adams?
Does your boy Briere thinks like you?
Can’t blame anyone for not wanting to sign in Buffalo. Whether through bad luck (1999) or incompetence (almost every year since then) they’ve become the definition of a losing franchise.
Location certainly doesn’t help either.