JJ Peterka explained

JJ Peterka
Team:Buffalo Sabres
League:NHL
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:EHC Red Bull München
Ntl Team:GER
Position:Centre
Birth Date:2002 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Munich, Germany
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:192
Shoots:Left
Draft:34th overall
Draft Year:2020
Draft Team:Buffalo Sabres
Career Start:2019

John-Jason "JJ" Peterka (born 14 January 2002) is a German professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 34th overall by the Sabres in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft,[1] [2] [3] and made his NHL debut in 2021.

Playing career

Peterka made his professional debut with EHC Red Bull München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). During the 2019–20 season he appeared in 42 games scoring 7 goals and 4 assists for 11 points.[4] Following the season, Peterka was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NHL draft 34th overall by the Buffalo Sabres Peterka was projected to be a first-round pick before the draft, but fell to the Buffalo Sabres in the second round.[5] He was said to be a great skater with great hands and great ability to make plays at top speed, while drawing a comparison to Patrick Kane. He was also said to be an unrelenting player that never gives up on the puck. Following the draft, Peterka went back to the DEL and played 30 games while scoring 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 points in the 2020-2021 season.

On 12 June 2021, Peterka was signed by the Buffalo Sabres to a three-year, entry-level contract.[6] During the 2021-2022 season, Peterka played for the Rochester Americans, the AHL team for the Buffalo Sabres. He appeared in 70 games during his rookie season, scoring 28 goals and 40 assists for a total of 68 points. He also played in 10 playoff games that year, recording 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points.[7]

Peterka made his NHL debut with the Sabres on December 29, 2021, in a game against the New Jersey Devils. After the game, the Sabres returned him to the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans.[8]

Peterka's first career NHL goal came in the Sabres' 2022–23 season opener at home against the Ottawa Senators. His goal tied the game at 1–1 en route to a Buffalo 4–1 victory on October 13, 2022.[9]

International play

Peterka made his international debut with the German U18 national team at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championship Division I, before joining the national junior team for the 2020 and 2021 World Junior Championships.

Joining the senior national team for the first time, Peterka made his World Championship debut at the 2021 edition. Two years later, he rejoined the national team for the 2023 IIHF World Championship, where Germany embarked on an unexpected deep run through the knockout round, defeating the heavily-favoured Team USA in the semi-final to reach the gold medal game.[10]  Peterka scored the opening goal of the game, but Germany was ultimately defeated by Team Canada, winning the silver medal, the nation's first at the World Championships since 1953.[11]  With six goals and six assists in ten games, Peterka was given the IIHF directorate award for Best Forward, and named to the Media All-Star Team.[12] [13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Playoffs
Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 RB Hockey Academy Czech.1818 7 14 21 42 4 0 4 0
2018–19 RB Hockey Academy Czech.1948 45 49 94 52
DEL42 7 4 11 14
ICEHL12 7 9 16 12
EHC München DEL30 9 11 20 82 1 0 1 0
AHL70 28 40 68 2810 7 5 12 6
NHL2 0 0 0 0
Buffalo Sabres NHL77 12 20 32 26
Buffalo Sabres NHL82 28 22 50 28
DEL totals72 16 15 31 222 1 0 1 0
NHL totals161 40 42 82 54

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2019GermanyU18-D1DNQ5 2 6 8 0
2020GermanyWJC9th7 4 2 6 16
2021GermanyWJC6th5 4 6 10 2
2021GermanyWC4th6 1 0 1 2
2023GermanyWC10 6 6 12 0
2024GermanyWC6th8 5 4 9 2
Junior totals17 10 14 24 18
Senior totals24 12 10 22 4

Awards and honors

AwardYear
AHL
All-Rookie Team2022[14]
International
World Championship Best Forward2023
World Championship Media All-Star Team2023

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bell . Josh . Weekly Prospect Report: Fagemo, Kravtsov, Stützle & More . 21 October 2019 . The Hockey Writers . 7 January 2020.
  2. Web site: World Juniors 2020: Alexis Lafrenière, Tim Stützle among 20 draft prospects to watch . Sporting News . 26 January 2020 . 26 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200126073532/https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/world-juniors-2020-alexis-lafreni-212948839.html . dead .
  3. Web site: Neumeier . Derek . 2020 NHL Entry Draft: Mid-Season Top 101 Rankings . 20 January 2020 . Defending Big D . 26 January 2020.
  4. Web site: JJ Peterka at eliteprospects.com . 2022-11-28 . eliteprospects.com.
  5. Web site: Kerr . Ben . 2020-05-03 . John-Jason Peterka Scouting Report: 2020 NHL Draft #22 . 2022-11-29 . lastwordonsports.com.
  6. Web site: Sabres sign Peterka to entry-level contract . . 12 June 2021 . 12 June 2021.
  7. Web site: JJ Peterka at eliteprospects.com . 2022-11-16 . eliteprospects.com.
  8. Web site: Peterka named AHL Player of the Week. Jordoun. LaBarber. NHL.com. January 3, 2022. January 22, 2022.
  9. Web site: 'Pure joy' Peterka nets 1st NHL goal in opening night victory . 2022-10-25 . NHL.com.
  10. News: Detroit Red Wings' Moritz Seider's Germany stuns U.S. in World Championship semifinals . St. James . Helene . . May 29, 2023 . May 29, 2023.
  11. Web site: Podnieks . Andrew . Canada rallies to win gold . IIHF . May 28, 2023 . May 29, 2023.
  12. News: Top 10 players at the World Championship: Arturs Silovs sealed the door . Kennedy . Ian . . May 29, 2023 . May 29, 2023.
  13. Web site: O'Brien . Derek . Silovs MVP, All-Stars named . IIHF . 29 May 2023 . 28 May 2023.
  14. Web site: 2021-22 AHL All-Rookie Team named . . April 27, 2022 . April 27, 2022.