Buffalo Sabers 2024 Player Report Card: JJ Peterka

A standout season for the young striker who wanted to prove he belonged in the league and should only improve from here on.

Total season stats: 28G, 22A, 50 pts in 82 matches

Age: 22

Contract status: Signed through 2024-25, $894,167 AAV, RFA at start of 2025-26 season

In a season where most of the Buffalo Sabers’ lights were pretty dim, John-Jason Peterka shined from the start. The combative winger started the season strong and continued to lead the team in goals scored almost throughout the season until the very end, when he went cold and a Tage Thompson finally in great shape overtook him.

Also, fun fact: Peterka has scored the Sabres’ first goal of the season for two years in a row now. After making the All-AHL Rookie of the Year team in his first season with the Rochester Americans at a point-per-game pace, he scored 32 points in 77 games during his rookie season before firmly establishing himself among the top six attackers last season. Allowing fifty points isn’t much in today’s NHL, but on a team struggling offensively, it was enough to be one of the leaders.

The 22-year-old led the way from the ‘kids’ line, even though Dylan Cozens was having a most miserable season and Zach Benson was having his own growing pains. Jack Quinn missing much of the season due to injury didn’t help the Sabers on the ice, but Peterka remained unfazed, finishing more nights as Buffalo’s best player on the ice.

What next for Peterka under Lindy Ruff next season? I think he’s only getting better. The veteran head coach admires tenacity and tenacity, two qualities the German embodies every time he steps on the ice.

Meanwhile, Peterka remained in good form throughout the summer, scoring five times and totaling nine points for his native Germany at the World Hockey Championships as they advanced to the quarter-finals.

A light I’m talking about how he finished the season, going useless for six games in February and then the final five to close out the campaign. Considering he’s played all 82 games this season and is still only 22, I don’t blame him.

Season level: A-