The biggest move the Boston Bruins made this offseason was an early one that happened right as the NHL Entry Draft was about to get underway in late June in Buffalo. It was a move that not many people, if any, saw coming.
Right before the Toronto Maple Leafs were to select Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick, Boston general manager Don Sweeney sent two first-round draft picks to the Utah Mammoth for JJ Peterka. It was a move that filled a huge need the Black and Gold had for more goal-scoring. On the latest episode of Frankly Hockey with Frank Seravalli, second-year Boston coach Marco Sturm discussed why he is a big addition to the roster not only this year, but beyond.
Marco Sturm explains why JJ Peterka is a good fit for the Bruins
As the trade was going down, it was reported and later announced that former Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams was joining the Bruins' front office as senior advisor to Sweeney. Adams just happened to be the GM who traded Peterka to Utah last summer, so there was a lot of familiarity with the player.
"(Peterka) has a lot of speed, he can score, and he has some skill,'' said Sturm. "That is something we needed on our team and in our lineup. The Boston Bruins, I think, in general, I think the last couple of years were chasing him a little bit.''
There were three needs the Bruins had going into the offseason, with a top center the No. 1 priority, along with a right-shot defenseman and a goal-scoring wing. The first two haven't been addressed yet, but early in the season, Peterka has proven to be the player that Sturm needed in his top-six.
Peterka's speed has been evident since the beginning of training camp, and his skill set was on display in the season opener. Leading the New York Rangers 1-0 late in the third period, and a minute after Fraser Minten opened the scoring, Minten made a move through the legs of Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider, and he beat Igor Shesterkin to double the lead in a 3-0 win.
Two nights later, against the Winnipeg Jets, Peterka speed was on display again. Late in overtime, David Pastrnak and Peterka broke in on a 2-on-1, and Peterka finished off the rush with the game-winning goal in a 4-3 victory. That play caught the eye of defenseman Hampus Lindholm.
The Bruins are going to need depth production this season, and Peterka is the guy they will be counting on. His next chance to find the scoresheet will be Thursday night when the Mammoth visit the TD Garden.
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