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Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Peterka Situation a Crossroads for Sabres Management, Ownership

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Ryan Womeldorf | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 11:05 AM ET

The Buffalo Sabres face yet another critical offseason in a rebuild that will seemingly never end. The biggest news out of the Sabres’ camp so far is that young winger J.J. Peterka is so unhappy with the direction of the team that he wants out altogether.

It isn’t the first time that a key component in Buffalo has wanted out. It also wouldn’t be the first time that the Sabres caved to those demands, making a trade that they probably didn’t want to make in the first place. The rumors have been flying, some even feeling that an offer sheet could be coming. This time, however, they cannot acquiesce simply because the player in question is not happy.

The Wrong Kind of History

To be fair to general manager Kevyn Adams, trading unhappy superstars pre-dates his time with the franchise (though the Ryan O’Reilly trade did net Tage Thompson, so it worked out). Unfortunately, Adams has been put in this situation more than a few times during his tenure, and those haven’t gone so well.

The Jack Eichel deal may have netted Alex Tuch and some good assets, but Eichel has been a star and has won a Stanley Cup. Sam Reinhart brought back Jiri Kulich and Devon Levi, but that haul pales compared to Reinhart scoring 57 goals en route to a Stanley Cup, and the Panthers are just one win away from a second title in a row.

Historically speaking, trading from a position of necessity does not work out. The Sabres are proof of that, even if they are lucky to have gotten pieces back that have at least somewhat worked out. Peterka may be in demand, but dealing him because they feel like they have to would likely net another disappointing result for the Sabres.

Management Cannot Afford Another Rebuild

This is a critical offseason for everyone involved, from owner Terry Pegula all the way down to the fan base. It cannot be stated enough: this team hasn’t made the playoffs in 14 seasons. This kind of thing doesn’t happen to other franchises, but awful situations like this have become synonymous with the Sabres. Trading away a young, budding star would almost certainly signal another rebuild.

While many would no doubt be happy to see Adams shown the door, there are consequences. Hiring the right replacement is a lot easier said than done (as the Sabres have shown). Players are going to become even further disgruntled, with current leaders wanting out and no one of value wanting to come in to help.

Things are bad in Buffalo, and it isn’t because of state tax and palm trees. No one wants to go to a team that can’t even compete, let alone win. Another rebuild will not only make it harder to attract free agents and trades but could start to poison the prospect pipeline as well. That kind of total organizational rot is not something to be taken lightly.

It’s Time to Take a Tough Stance

In the past, the Sabres have allowed unhappy players to dictate the situation. While there is something to be said about not wanting unhappy players in the dressing room, that is out the window right now. Everyone is unhappy, so what harm is it going to cause to have to keep one of them?

Via The Hockey Writers

Peterka has no leverage here. He’s a restricted free agent, which means that the Sabres can match any offer. The team holds all the cards, and he is hoping that his attitude will be enough to get his way. The Sabres need to be vocal publicly that they believe Peterka to be a foundational piece of the franchise and that moving on from him would do nothing to further their chances of getting better.

Peterka won’t be happy, and there would no doubt be whispers about players not wanting to be stuck in that position. That said, if the Sabres are going to get to a point where players want to play in Buffalo, Peterka needs to be a key piece of that puzzle. Trading him is essentially hitting the reset button, and could give other players the resolve they need to force management’s hand.

The Most Critical Move of the Offseason

The fan base has been clamoring for management to make a strong push to get better. Trading away Peterka, regardless of how unhappy he is, only moves in the opposite direction. Unless the bounty is so ridiculous that turning it down is foolish – an offer sheet that nets three or more first-round picks would be hard to reject – management needs to get things settled to keep Peterka around.

Good, young scoring wingers don’t grow on trees. The Sabres need to secure this asset and build around him. Otherwise, it is just another piece of the foundation gone in a structure that can never find stability.