After weeks of commerce rumors, the Buffalo Sabres have lastly dealt winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in trade for defenseman Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan. Peterka was one of many hottest names in the marketplace, and he goes to a Mammoth staff already loaded with talent up entrance.
Peterka, who simply turned 23 in January, broke out with 27 targets and 41 assists final season. In actual fact, Peterka’s manufacturing has taken a giant leap ahead in every of his three full seasons. The previous second-round choose has the potential to be a point-per-game participant and a bona fide prime line winger.
The Mammoth are a staff on the rise, so this transfer makes some sense for them, particularly in the event that they obtained the sense that they weren’t going to land Mitch Marner in free company. Peterka is a pleasant comfort prize, even when he’s clearly much less polished.
The return does appear a little bit underwhelming for the Sabres at first look, however they did not essentially come away empty handed. Kesselring is a rangy defenseman who has potential to be fairly good in a top-four position. Doan remains to be solely 23, and there is a good probability he’ll play a bottom-six for in Buffalo for a very long time.
Let’s take a deeper have a look at what all sides obtained on this deal how they got here out.
The commerce
Mammoth obtain
Sabres obtain
- F Josh Doan
- D Michael Kesselring
Grades
Utah Mammoth
Peterka was probably the most coveted gamers on the commerce block for a motive. It is robust to seek out 23-year-olds whose manufacturing has jumped by 18 factors in every of the final two seasons. In 2024-25, Peterka’s 68 factors have been tied with Rasmus Dahlin for second on the staff, and he rounds out an thrilling younger ahead group in Salt Lake Metropolis.
There are few issues Peterka loves greater than attacking of the frenzy, so he brings some quick-strike skill to the Utah offense. With 55 targets mixed over the past two years, Peterka has confirmed he can mild the lamp on the NHL stage, however he additionally displayed some good playmaking skill this previous season. He practically doubled his help complete from the 12 months earlier than, going from 22 to 41.
As nice as Peterka could also be within the offensive zone, particularly in transition, there are some apparent warts in his sport. Particularly, Peterka tends to provide again quite a lot of what he will get. With Peterka on the ice at five-on-five, the Sabres allowed 3.04 xGA/60, per Pure Stat Trick. That poor protection did not all the time present up within the field rating as a result of the Sabres shot 14.2% when Peterka was within the sport. That is simply not a sustainable quantity.
Upon buying Peterka, the Mammoth signed him to a five-year contract price $7.7 million. Given his age and the upward pattern of the wage cap, that ought to wind up being a good deal. Peterka has immense offensive upside, and the Mammoth could have fairly the weapon on the prime of the lineup if he can clear up his defensive sport. Grade: B+
Buffalo Sabres
If it have been me, I am undecided I might have been seeking to transfer Peterka, even when his contract calls for have been on the excessive finish. That kind of confirmed expertise at such a younger age is troublesome to seek out, and it is going to be arduous for Buffalo to switch Peterka in its prime six. The Sabres might wind up OK right here, however Kesselring should thrive in his new position.
When watching Kesselring, it is not arduous to see why the Sabres would have some curiosity in him. The 6-foot-5 and 215-pound defenseman strikes nicely, and he’s able to making some slick performs with the puck.. These are all of the traits NHL groups determine in top-four defensemen, which is strictly the position Kesselring shall be requested to play in Buffalo. This previous season, Kesselring posted an anticipated targets share of 54.1% at five-on-five, in keeping with Pure Stat Trick. He did that whereas surrendering simply 2.31 xGA/60.
On the offensive finish, Kesselring posted seven targets and 22 assists, however I believe he is able to extra given the best way he can skate. With another 12 months left on his contract at $1.4 million, Kesselring additionally comes less expensive than Peterka, even when he’s two years older.
Doan, the sone of Arizona Coyotes legend Shane Doan, stuffed a bottom-six position for Utah final season. He recorded 19 factors in 51 video games. These numbers will not blow anybody away, however at simply 23 years outdated, Doan can develop right into a stable bottom-six position to provide the Sabres some respectable depth.
At first look, it is a unhealthy deal for the Sabres because of the quantity of offense that simply walked out the door. What retains their grade afloat is the potential of the underrated Kesselring, who Buffalo will really want if it additionally trades defenseman Bowen Byram sooner or later this summer season. Grade — C+
