Sabres Trade JJ Peterka to Utah for Defenseman Michael Kesselring and Forward Josh Doan

[DarthEbriate]

5 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Well didn’t Adams say specifically that he was saving for the RFAs? Like we know that was what they WANTED us to think the plan was but I think he also outright said it multiple times

Absolutely. I think the first time he did it was well before we knew the cap would be $95M this season and over 100 next year. (And he has the silly unspoken internal cap and now the Skinner buyout cap to manage.)

But, the RFAs change. Quinn, JJP, and Levi and have transformed into Quinn on a bridge only, McLeod for a real contract, maybe Byram, JBD, and Levi. It's still applicable. (But we all know he'll trade Kesselring at the deadline or next summer for another 1-year until RFA guy. Unless the team starts winning and Power/Levi start looking the part of their potential.)

[pi2000]

Everyone ripping Peterka for not being defensively sound just blows my mind.

He's a 23 year old goal scoring winger.  You pay him to score goals and create scoring chances, his ability to defend will improve as he matures but that's not his role.

You now have 27..likely future 30-40 less goal production in your lineup moving forward.   You have to replace that hole or you've made your team appreciably worse. 

[dudacek]

Josh Doan has 40 goals and 78 points in 104 AHL games and 12 goals and 28 points in 62 NHL games.

Jiri Kulich has 53 goals and 94 points in 123 AHL games and 15 goals and 24 points in 63 NHL games.

(Not a fair comparison because Doan is 2 years older, but interesting nonetheless; he's not Beck Malenstyn, there may be some offence in there)

[Thorny]

1 minute ago, pi2000 said:

Everyone ripping Peterka for not being defensively sound just blows my mind.

He's a 23 year old goal scoring winger.  You pay him to score goals and create scoring chances, his ability to defend will improve as he matures but that's not his role.

You now have 27..likely future 30-40 less goal production in your lineup moving forward.   You have to replace that hole or you've made your team appreciably worse. 

Hard to get traits for easier to find and cheaper. Their MO

the new “revamped 4th line”

 

[Jorcus]

6 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

This trade only makes sense if the Sabres are reeling in a big fish this offseason.  Instead of spending 7MM on JJP, the Sabres added physicality and RD. That’s what folks wanted this summer and they did it inexpensively.  

Kesselring, 1 year @ $1.4 million

Josh Doan, 1 year @ 900k (ELC)

I doubt it is Marner, but if this paves the way for Robertson, I’m good.  
If this was done for EEE considerations, then this franchise is truly cooked.  Have to hope it’s the former.  

 

Robertson would be an ideal left winger for Thompson.

[klos1963]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Nope and Doan only played 51 games so going with 15g in 82 isn't too crazy. 

It would still be a career year, and I'd be surprised if JJ took a step back. 

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, SabresVet said:

We're back to, as fans, assuming increased production from young players who aren't proven.  Still not good enough when you're a franchise in this predicament.  

This deal confirms Adams has no real plan.  We were told they didn't want to block players from being in the NHL.  Then, they signed some vets when that plan was insufficient and they apparently realized the error of the original plan.  It resulted in McLeod and some 4th liners last off-season.  

And now they are trading those younger players, necessary or not?  So, we'll see the Samuelsson buyout perhaps and a trade of Byram.  For what?  More spare pieces?

This is just re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.  No plan.  No vision.  

Respectfully but strenuously disagree with your conclusions. It’s not so much about rearranging chairs as it is replacing some chairs. I expect some additional transactions. Then we will be in a better position to judge. 

[DarthEbriate]

5 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Josh Doan has 40 goals and 78 points in 104 AHL games and 12 goals and 28 points in 62 NHL games.

Jiri Kulich has 53 goals and 94 points in 123 AHL games and 15 goals and 24 points in 63 NHL games.

(Not a fair comparison because Doan is 2 years older, but interesting nonetheless; he's not Beck Malenstyn, there may be some offence in there)

Doan's ceiling could be higher, but I'm hopeful that with the right guidance, coaching, and on-ice opportunity, we'd see a bigger version of Jason Zucker. Which... is good.

He is not Marcus Foligno, though. He has no career NHL fights and is not an enforcer by any stretch despite being a go-to-the-net and forechecking type. His "stand up for teammates" credibility has never been tested and is unknown.

[K-9]

Not sure, but I think I detect a note or two of truculence in this thread.

[SabresVet]

https://nhltradetracker.com/user/trade_list_by_GM/Kevyn_Adams/306/1

This is Adams' trade record going back 5 years now.  

The McLeod-Savoie deal is a TBD unless they re-sign him.  Maybe the Norris/B-D for Cozens/Gilbert trade provided Norris is actually healthy.

Otherwise it's dealing disgruntled players for less value, minor moves, and swapping draft picks.  Or, adding a decent player who'll be flipped for goodness know what.  

Not anticipating some monumental move from this guy, who seems content with just keeping his job. 

 

[jad1]

Just now, K-9 said:

Not sure, but I think I detect a note or two of truculence in this thread.

[LGR4GM]

7 minutes ago, klos1963 said:

It would still be a career year, and I'd be surprised if JJ took a step back. 

I think where I come down is that Peterka is likely to regress. 

[Drag0nDan]

Just now, SabresVet said:

https://nhltradetracker.com/user/trade_list_by_GM/Kevyn_Adams/306/1

This is Adams' trade record going back 5 years now.  

The McLeod-Savoie deal is a TBD unless they re-sign him.  Maybe the Norris/B-D for Cozens/Gilbert trade provided Norris is actually healthy.

Otherwise it's dealing disgruntled players for less value, minor moves, and swapping draft picks.  Or, adding a decent player who'll be flipped for goodness know what.  

Not anticipating some monumental move from this guy, who seems content with just keeping his job. 

 

Cozens was so terrible last year that even with the risk of injury for Norris, i was happy with the return.  I don't have the same issues with peterka, but he was also a bit of a turnover machine, and for 8M AAV I'd like a plus player on the power play - especially as a winger.  

[CallawaySabres]

45 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I agree the return is lacking. But it's not like Adams has a string of dud trades. A swap of first (4 for 9) would have made this deal so much more palatable.

Yup, that would have been a huge difference, and I think it would have been better optics for fans. 

[inkman]

48 minutes ago, Ross Rhea said:

***** You Adams!

You’d think with your handle being a legendary fictitious pugilist, you’d have a little more respect for Doan and to a lesser extent Kesserling’s willingness to throw hands.  

[SabresVet]

Just now, Drag0nDan said:

Cozens was so terrible last year that even with the risk of injury for Norris, i was happy with the return.  I don't have the same issues with peterka, but he was also a bit of a turnover machine, and for 8M AAV I'd like a plus player on the power play - especially as a winger.  

My issue is...Adams handed Cozens a major contract (for this franchise) and it was a clear mistake less than 2 years in.  Samuelsson that way.  No one is saying the Power deal is good either.  Luukkonen?  Eh.  

He gets credit for Tage, who probably got praise from Granato to extend, but otherwise, his extensions have hurt the team.  Dahlin is another no-brainer.  

It's not just trades, it's the lack of a coherent plan and now the extensions.  Everything he touches is almost guaranteed to go sour.   

[dudacek]

6 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Doan's ceiling could be higher, but I'm hopeful that with the right guidance, coaching, and on-ice opportunity, we'd see a bigger version of Jason Zucker. Which... is good.

He is not Marcus Foligno, though. He has no career NHL fights and is not an enforcer by any stretch despite being a go-to-the-net and forechecking type. His "stand up for teammates" credibility has never been tested and is unknown.

He’s no enforcer, but he did go after Radko Gudas without hesitation in that clip up-thread.

 

[Drag0nDan]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

I think where I come down is that Peterka is likely to regress. 

Raw stats I see it really coming down to who he plays with.  If he's with Keller and Cooley - he'll probably score 30 goals.  If he's with Guenther and Hayton I could see a regression statistically.  How much were his stats boosted by playing with finishers like tage and tuch?  

[FrenchConnection44]

Kesselring is the right-shot defenseman Adams has coveted for his entire tenure as general manager. He’s 25 years old, stands 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds and has the toughness to match. But he also skates well and has one of the heaviest shots in the league. He looks like an ideal partner for Owen Power and is under contract for one more year at $1.4 million before becoming a restricted free agent.

Right-handed defensemen tend to be among the most difficult players to find and acquire. The Sabres clearly needed to add a tough defender to their blue line this summer, and Kesselring is that.

Doan, the son of former NHLer Shane Doan, had only 19 points in what was mostly a bottom-six role for Utah last season. But the 23-year-old also acquitted himself as one of the most tenacious forecheckers in the league last season. According to AllThreeZones, Doan was among the league leaders in forecheck pressures per 60 and recovered dump-ins per 60. Utah controlled 61 percent of the expected goals when Doan was on the ice at five-on-five. He plays a smart, well-rounded game and has room to get better offensively. He’s in the third year of his entry-level contract.

 

—— 

In my view, we need to get both of these under longer term deals for this to be value. 

Of course part of the issue is coaching. We need a good coach from a good system. I don’t like that we are running it back with Ruff. But even if we can make it to the playoffs (or if not) we need to clean house (even at the GM level) and consider a top assistant like Jamie Kompon from the Panthers. 

If we can build a gritty, competitive team that may become a bit more attractive to some other players. 

[JoeSchmoe]

3 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I think where I come down is that Peterka is likely to regress. 

You're usually pretty well researched, so I genuinely want to know why think this.

I see a guy who's got top end ability off the rush and has creativity to match. Even going back to the WJC's when he was playing with Stutzle I thought he was nearly as talented, just less hyped. I also feel like he's young enough to improve his defensive game, just as guys like Eichel and Matthews did as they matured.

[K-9]

1 minute ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

Kesselring is the right-shot defenseman Adams has coveted for his entire tenure as general manager. He’s 25 years old, stands 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds and has the toughness to match. But he also skates well and has one of the heaviest shots in the league. He looks like an ideal partner for Owen Power and is under contract for one more year at $1.4 million before becoming a restricted free agent.

Right-handed defensemen tend to be among the most difficult players to find and acquire. The Sabres clearly needed to add a tough defender to their blue line this summer, and Kesselring is that.

Doan, the son of former NHLer Shane Doan, had only 19 points in what was mostly a bottom-six role for Utah last season. But the 23-year-old also acquitted himself as one of the most tenacious forecheckers in the league last season. According to AllThreeZones, Doan was among the league leaders in forecheck pressures per 60 and recovered dump-ins per 60. Utah controlled 61 percent of the expected goals when Doan was on the ice at five-on-five. He plays a smart, well-rounded game and has room to get better offensively. He’s in the third year of his entry-level contract.

 

—— 

In my view, we need to get both of these under longer term deals for this to be value. 

Of course part of the issue is coaching. We need a good coach from a good system. I don’t like that we are running it back with Ruff. But even if we can make it to the playoffs (or if not) we need to clean house (even at the GM level) and consider a top assistant like Jamie Kompon from the Panthers. 

If we can build a gritty, competitive team that may become a bit more attractive to some other players. 

Speaking of Ruff, the players we acquired indicate he has his hands all over this trade. Just as he was as a player, Ruff values having some sand in his lineup and I can only imagine how it tore him up inside watching teams take liberties with our key players with absolutely no response from the wimps in his lineup. I also imagine he ripped them new ones during film reviews. 

[Thorny]

On 6/11/2025 at 7:11 PM, LGR4GM said:

Who's we? I've been exceedingly clear I wouldn't trade Peterka for anything short of Jason Robertson. 

 

14 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I think where I come down is that Peterka is likely to regress. 

How do the players we got compare to Robertson in your estimation? 

total value 

Edited 4 hours ago by Thorny

[Porous Five Hole]

Just now, Drag0nDan said:

Raw stats I see it really coming down to who he plays with.  If he's with Keller and Cooley - he'll probably score 30 goals.  If he's with Guenther and Hayton I could see a regression statistically.  How much were his stats boosted by playing with finishers like tage and tuch?  

This exactly.  Peterka produced only with premium deployment last year. He was too quiet anywhere else in the lineup. 

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

You're usually pretty well researched, so I genuinely want to know why think this.

I see a guy who's got top end ability off the rush and has creativity to match. Even going back to the WJC's when he was playing with Stutzle I thought he was nearly as talented, just less hyped. I also feel like he's young enough to improve his defensive game, just as guys like Eichel and Matthews did as they matured.

His xgf, his sh%, and his 2nd assist numbers all give me pause. There's some evidence his shooting last year was more luck than good and his 2nd assist levels also look like luck as no one else on the team is close except Dahlin in that metric. So will he benefit from those more empty caloriesin points and will he still shoot as well? Idk, maybe but rush offense we know can dry up at times and Utah isn't a rush team. Still, he's a good player so he could adapt.

[krakensabr56390]

3 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

You're usually pretty well researched, so I genuinely want to know why think this.

I see a guy who's got top end ability off the rush and has creativity to match. Even going back to the WJC's when he was playing with Stutzle I thought he was nearly as talented, just less hyped. I also feel like he's young enough to improve his defensive game, just as guys like Eichel and Matthews did as they matured.

Not to speak for him but peterkas shooting percentage was historically high. There’s a very high likelihood that’s not repeatable and this regression is likely - plus he’s D is still horribad. If he focuses on being a more complete player does his offense regress even more or is he just a 1 way player