Bruins score top-six wing J.J. Peterka in deal with Mammoth

Steve Conroy, Boston Herald on Jun 26, 2026

Published in Hockey

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BOSTON — At the top of the Bruins’ wish list for the offseason, as outlined by GM Don Sweeney on Wednesday, were speed, skill and a right-shot defenseman.

On Friday night, they checked the speed and skill box.

Shortly before the opening bell of the first round of the NHL draft, the Bruins added some scoring pop to their forward corps by obtaining 24-year-old Utah Mammoth left-shot wing J.J. Peterka.

Peterka cost the B’s some of their futures capital — two first-rounders, the B’s 23rd overall on Friday and Florida’s first-rounder in 2028 (top 10 protected) that the B’s got for Brad Marchand last year. Considering how much the Panthers have loaded up with the acquisition of Brady Tkachuk, that pick figures to be at the back end of the draft.

If the Florida pick should fall within the top 10, the B’s can choose to instead transfer their own unprotected first round pick in 2029.

All in all, that’s a minimal package for a legitimate top-six forward just entering his prime.

The B’s still have the Toronto Maple Leafs’ pick in 2028.

Provided the B’s are able to come to an agreement with Pavel Zacha, who has one more year left on his contract before unrestricted agency, the B’s took a nice step forward with the acquisition of Peterka.

There is still some uncertainty surrounding UFA-to-be Viktor Arvidsson, who provided 25-29-54 last season on the second line. The B’s have been negotiating with his camp but, at 33, Arvidsson could be looking at his final contract and he may have to cash in elsewhere. But the acquisition of Peterka, who could play on the top line with Zacha and David Pastrnak, could allow Morgan Geekie to drop down to the second line right wing.

Peterka was drafted in the second round (34th overall) of the 2020 draft by the Buffalo Sabres and had a 27-41-68 season in 2024-25. But in his RFA offseason last summer, he was traded to the Utah Mammoth for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring, and he signed a five-year, $38.5 million deal with the Mammoth. Peterka’s got four years left with a cap hit of $7.7 million.

There is, of course, a German connection for the B’s. Head coach Marco Sturm, a Dingolfing native, was heavily involved in the German national program and no doubt has a good book on Peterka, a Munich native.

It looks like the 6-foot, 190-pound Peterka will be reuniting with his former GM in Buffalo. Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that former Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, a one-time first-rounder of the B’s (1993) who did not sign with Boston, was joining the B’s front office. Sweeney said on Wednesday that he would be bringing in someone from outside the organization after former assistant GM Jamie Langenbrunner left the club and joined the Nashville front office.

Adams was let go by Buffalo last December, just before the Sabres finally took off.

The B’s still need to find a right-shot defenseman — possibly two. They’ve been negotiating with pending UFA Andre Peeke, a puck-eating, well-like D-man, but he may be able to earn more on the open market than what the B’s want to pay for a third pair defenseman.

Unless the B’s make another move to get into the first round, they won’t pick until the 56th pick in Saturday’s second round.