Buffalo Sabres fans haven't forgotten about the Jack Eichel trade involving the Vegas Golden Knights. They've equated the former first-round pick to Satan (or Saddam Hussein) himself, calling him all sorts of names. That includes "locker room cancer," "fraud," and "overrated." Well, Sabres fans. It looks like the Massachusetts native is having the last laugh this season.
Having 19 goals and 53 assists in a season can shut any skeptics and haters up. He's on pace to close near the 100-point mark, obliterating the current single-season franchise record for points (William Karlsson had 78 points in 2017-18). It looks like Sabres fans are taking another "L" on this one.
It's unfortunate because the franchise is going through yet another season without the Stanley Cup playoffs. In fact, they've been bone-dry since 2011, watching teams such as the Florida Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights, and even the Seattle Kraken make the postseason.
They've been tortured throughout their franchise history, watching Brett Hutt clinch the Stanley Cup on a controversial call. Add that to the large list of sad events in Buffalo sports history and you wonder if fans in Western New York are okay. Better add some ranch there, mate.
Thus, it's time for yet another fire sale. Yes, the Golden Knights have sent scouts to numerous Sabres games in recent months. While fans have heard names like Dylan Cozens and Alex Tuch being floated around, one particular name should be considered. It would provide Kelly McCrimmon with another young forward and add more depth. It's time to make people throw their buffalo wings at you, McCrimmon.
The Vegas Golden Knights should inquire about JJ Peterka
If there was another reason for Vegas Golden Knights fans to get another one on Buffalo sports fans, this would be it. It's practically the same situation, only in Diet Coke form. McCrimmon acquires a young player with offensive potential. That player gives them a stronger all-around attack, boosting them in various areas.
That includes setting up scoring opportunities (30 assists this season), adding more power play depth (seven power play assists), and capitalizing on scoring opportunities (17 goals and 129 shots). Of course, that happens to be JJ Peterka, who's emerged as a budding superstar for the Buffalo Sabres.
One can make the case that the Munich native is a better fit for the long term than Tuch. He's 23 years old, more productive from an offensive standpoint, and carries a smaller cap hit ($855,834 this season, according to PuckPedia). He's set to become a restricted free agent this summer and won't hit the market unrestricted until 2029.
All these would point to making the Golden Knights more potent on the offensive front. His natural sense of the game and abilities as an athlete make him perfect for the rush, too. Combine his north-south abilities with a passion for driving the net and having a quick release and everything's perfect about the German right winger.
Except there's a minor hangup with such a move
It seems that it'll take a king's ransom to acquire a player like JJ Peterka... or any of the Sabres players, for that matter. They learned their lesson from the Jack Eichel trade and are ramping up the collateral for any outgoing players. That includes Tuch and Henri Jokiharju, who would require an unfortunate team to overpay.
With the #Sabrehood trying to trade Henri Jokiharju, who'd welcome a move, they continue to get calls on others, including Alex Tuch, who has 1 more year left on his contract. Word is Buffalo's set a very high price. They prefer to keep him, unless a team is willing to overpay.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 2, 2025
That leaves Kelly McCrimmon with one question: Does he want to risk trading away budding prospects such as Trevor Connelly, Carl Lindbom, and Mathieu Cataford? Is it worth going for another big name given that they spent big on players like Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin last season? It's something that might benefit the long term.
However, what happens when that Stanley Cup window officially closes? What happens if Connelly or Lindbom are gone and get an opportunity elsewhere? Yes, it's good to get big names to push that window wide open. But you'll need a complete roster makeover when you're relegated to being on the cusp of making the playoffs. Remember, there aren't many viable prospects in the farm system aside from the aforementioned three players.
Still, getting a player of Peterka's caliber shouldn't be overlooked. Getting him at a cheap price for years is much better than trying to sign two superstars to $12 million+ contracts. Players like Mark Stone and William Karlsson aren't sticking around forever. Why not take a shot and inquire about another star in Western New York, making the residents scream in agonizing pain?