JJ Peterka is set to become a restricted free agent and is already viewed as a legitimate offer sheet target if he reaches RFA status without a new deal on July 1.
An offer sheet with an average annual value in the fifth compensation tier, between $7.02 million and $9.36 million, would match Peterka’s projected cap hit on a long-term extension. If another team signs him to that type of offer and the Sabres choose not to match, the compensation would likely be a first, second, and third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
That return sets a high bar, and if the Sabres were to trade him instead, they’d expect a package of even greater value.
But Buffalo seems set on keeping the 23-year-old forward.
The Buffalo Sabres Don’t Want to Trade JJ Peterka
According to Mark Easson of nhlrumors.com, Elliotte Friedman recently said on the “32 Thoughts: The Podcast” that it’s clear to him that Buffalo is leaning towards keeping Peterka.
“Well, first of all, in Buffalo, I had some Sabers fans who sent me notes and say, can you just explain what you’re talking about with JJ Peterka? You know, do you think Buffalo won’t trade him? And I said, That’s not what I believe.”
Easson continued, “What I believe is that Buffalo does not want to trade him. Now, who knows where this will go, but the Sabers have made it very clear that’s not what they want to do.”
JJ Peterka may be on the trade market. #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/YwnzoCvipR
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 15, 2025
There’s good reason for the Sabres to hold on tight to Peterka. Their top-nine forward group has lacked consistency over the past few seasons. Buffalo has cycled through a wave of changes, acquiring Ryan McLeod and Joshua Norris down the middle, graduating top prospect Zach Benson, and moving on from Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt, and former top-10 pick Matthew Savoie.
Peterka emerged as one of Buffalo’s most dynamic offensive weapons through all that turnover.
He broke out during the 2024-25 season, finishing with 27 goals and 41 assists for 68 points across 77 games. That marked a career-high in assists, demolishing his previous best of 22. It was also his second straight season with 25-plus goals, and he posted nine multi-point games, including a strong push after returning from a lower-body injury in March.
The German winger averaged 18:11 of ice time per game, nearly two minutes more than his prior seasons, and finished third on the team in goals.
With $23.2 million in projected cap space and seven roster spots to fill this offseason, the Sabres can keep Peterka in the fold.
Now, it’s just a matter of showing him the money quickly.