In this ever-changing NHL with growing player power, increased salary caps, and the return of international rivalries, one thing remains the same: the Buffalo Sabres are going to trade their young studs.
The Sabres once again shocked the NHL world when they dealt 23-year-old forward JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan. Peterka immediately signed a five-year, $38.5 million deal with Utah.
Kesselring is an intriguing, 25-year-old right-handed defenseman who could pair with Owen Power next season. Doan is a talented, 23-year-old forward with plenty of upside. But neither has proven as much as Peterka at the NHL level.
Buffalo’s 2020 second-round pick and Germany native just had his best season as a pro, recording 27 goals and 68 points over 77 games. Through 238 NHL games, he has 150 points.
Perhaps the most infuriating part of this trade is that, according to NHL Insider Frank Seravalli, names such as Marco Rossi, Jordan Kyrou, Noah Dobson, and multiple first-round picks were on the table for Peterka.
Peterka has not even remotely scratched his ceiling and makes for a fun addition to this up-and-coming Mammoth team. But, for the Sabres, it marks another disappointing trade involving a budding star.
Since general manager Kevyn Adams took over in June 2020, Buffalo has gotten rid of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Brandon Montour, and Taylor Hall. That is not to mention Ryan O’Reilly, Evander Kane, or Robin Lehner, all of whom were dismissed by the previous regime. Plus, to make matters worse, Linus Ullmark left in July of 2021 and won the Vezina Trophy with the Boston Bruins in 2023.
It is no surprise that the Sabres have the longest active playoff series win drought at 18 seasons, and the longest ever postseason appearance drought at 14 seasons.
Maybe Kesselring and Doan pan out for Adams, but if history is an indicator, Peterka will enjoy a long, successful career away from Buffalo.
