Friedman: JJ Peterka to Boston; and Kevyn Adams joins their FO

[Taro T]

12 minutes ago, dudacek said:

So is Peterka one of the least “Bruins” type player you can imagine.

I mean Mittelstadt is up there, but 🤷

Mittelstadt, Jokiharju, too.

Only Zadorov of the former Sabres seems like a Bruin.

Then again, Paille didn't exactly seem like a prototypical Bruin before he was traded there but he seemed to fit in.

[Mango]

30 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Mittelstadt, Jokiharju, too.

Only Zadorov of the former Sabres seems like a Bruin.

Then again, Paille didn't exactly seem like a prototypical Bruin before he was traded there but he seemed to fit in.

Unpopular opinion, I still like Mitts as sort of aiddle/bottom 6 tweener. Pretty versatile down the lineup.

I would have little issue with him on a similar deal to Malenstyn.

Considering we just got Doan and Benny on $7M AAV I don't love his current contract.

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, Mango said:

Unpopular opinion, I still like Mitts as sort of aiddle/bottom 6 tweener. Pretty versatile down the lineup.

I would have little issue with him on a similar deal to Malenstyn.

Considering we just got Doan and Benny on $7M AAV I don't love his current contract.

Personally liked Mittelstadt as a Sabre.  

But the question was about guys that aren't "typical" Bruins.  Mitts fits that definiton almost to a T.

[LGR4GM]

44 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Personally liked Mittelstadt as a Sabre.  

But the question was about guys that aren't "typical" Bruins.  Mitts fits that definiton almost to a T.

Big Bad Bruins are over now. 

[GHOST OF KEVYN ADAMS]

On 6/29/2026 at 7:52 AM, Pimlach said:

The proof is his record.  He was not part of the turn around that magically happened upon the rumor of his dismissal.   Coincidence?   I think Ruff did more to turn this around than Adams.  
 

I’m tired of talking about Adams. Go haunt some other place.  The Bruins fan forum needs you.  

Then dont talk about him. I don't have a gun to your head.

[GHOST OF KEVYN ADAMS]

On 6/29/2026 at 3:20 PM, JohnC said:

Why do you think Pegula fired KA?

Bad start preceded by a decade and a half of futility. I dont think anybody saw the heater they went on coming. Bottom line is what Adams did ultimately worked. We are stacked with young talent and to say Adams did a terrible job in hindsight is flat out wrong. He did exactly what he said he was going to do. Rebuild the talent pool for lasting success. That means young players who take time to develop. Ironically Jarmo seems to be following the same blueprint and I applaud him for that. 

[PerreaultForever]

On 6/29/2026 at 3:59 PM, LGR4GM said:

Big Bad Bruins are over now. 

Will Borgen going to come back to haunt you now 😉

Bruins just keep adding ex Sabres here in the upside down world. 

[GHOST OF KEVYN ADAMS]

On 6/29/2026 at 12:52 AM, ... said:

Yeah. That's exactly what we think.

Not hard to come to that conclusion. You guys know absolutely nothing about hockey.

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2026/07/04/jj-peterka-utah-mammoth-analysis/

[LGR4GM]

3 hours ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said:

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2026/07/04/jj-peterka-utah-mammoth-analysis/

Never met a single Sabres anywhere that called Peterka "lazy and self centered" 

Rest of the article is was interesting accept this board has done deeper analysis of JJP. He's a rush player with no real B game. 

Also calling a 6' 190lb forward "small" is some copium.

[GASabresIUFAN]

5 hours ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said:

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2026/07/04/jj-peterka-utah-mammoth-analysis/

I think I read this same article when Mitts failed in Colorado.  
 

Sometimes a guy is a fit for one system and not another.  Not all coaches are able to put their players in a position to succeed.

Edited July 5 by GASabresIUFAN

[K-9]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Never met a single Sabres anywhere that called Peterka "lazy and self centered" 

Rest of the article is was interesting accept this board has done deeper analysis of JJP. He's a rush player with no real B game. 

Also calling a 6' 190lb forward "small" is some copium.

I agree JJ isn’t lazy and he has the speed and enough size to be a force on the defensive side of things. For some reason though, he just hasn’t dedicated himself to that aspect of the game. Playing defense is more about dedication and desire than it is about awareness and positioning imo. Simply put, he lacks the heart and it’s no wonder he found himself in Lindy’s doghouse as a result. 

[kas23]

On 7/1/2026 at 7:40 PM, GHOST OF KEVYN ADAMS said:

Bad start preceded by a decade and a half of futility. I dont think anybody saw the heater they went on coming. Bottom line is what Adams did ultimately worked. We are stacked with young talent and to say Adams did a terrible job in hindsight is flat out wrong. He did exactly what he said he was going to do. Rebuild the talent pool for lasting success. That means young players who take time to develop. Ironically Jarmo seems to be following the same blueprint and I applaud him for that. 

I didn’t downvote you, because I partially agree. But, if accumulating talent was the primary job of a GM, he would get GM of the year. A GM should be a team builder though. I don’t think KA did this. And this is a complement and a knock on him: I don’t think he was the driving force behind accumulating this talent, but he was an excellent listener and checked his ego at the door. His listened to the people who knew more than him and executed to some degree.
 

And for whatever reason, I think this FO changed its MO with drafting Benson and acquiring Doan. Someone’s light switch turned on. Would love to know the reason behind this, but we’ll likely never know. 

[dudacek]

3 hours ago, kas23 said:

I didn’t downvote you, because I partially agree. But, if accumulating talent was the primary job of a GM, he would get GM of the year. A GM should be a team builder though. I don’t think KA did this. And this is a complement and a knock on him: I don’t think he was the driving force behind accumulating this talent, but he was an excellent listener and checked his ego at the door. His listened to the people who knew more than him and executed to some degree.
 

And for whatever reason, I think this FO changed its MO with drafting Benson and acquiring Doan. Someone’s light switch turned on. Would love to know the reason behind this, but we’ll likely never know. 

There's a pretty strong case that the Sabres got better at drafting (and started the trend of valuing "dogs" at forward and big, right-handed defencemen who can skate) once the scouting department starting fully integrating with the analytics department.

[shrader]

16 minutes ago, dudacek said:

There's a pretty strong case that the Sabres got better at drafting (and started the trend of valuing "dogs" at forward and big, right-handed defencemen who can skate) once the scouting department starting fully integrating with the analytics department.

And the people doing that drafting, they’re still here. 

[RETURNTOGLORY]

Has JJ been marked as a problem child? 🤔

[Brawndo]

Officially official.

Adams is the senior advisor to the GM

 

[LGR4GM]

22 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Officially official.

Adams is the senior advisor to the GM

 

First meeting:

Adams: stares*

Sweeney: Shifts uncomfortably in his seat*

Adams: "WHY THE ***** DID YOU TRADE 2 FIRSTS FOR JJ PETERKA!?

Sweeny: Just stares at the floor*

 

[Huckleberry]

Really thought JJP would fit with the mammoth better.  The need a sniper and rush player so bad on that team.

[#freejame]

I’ll always associate JJ with Mike Peca calling him a unicorn. 

[DarthEbriate]

6 minutes ago, #freejame said:

I’ll always associate JJ with Mike Peca calling him a unicorn. 

Put JJ on a line with Pasta and he may put up some very good numbers.

[Doohickie]

1 hour ago, DarthEbriate said:

Put JJ on a line with Pasta and he may put up some very good numbers.

It's weird:  I went over to the Broons subreddit to troll them during the playoffs and actually had some good conversations with the people over there.  By no means am I shifting allegiances or anything but... I don't blindly hate Boston like I used to.

I'm sure when we play them the hate will return, but it's been interesting talking to another fan base trying to make themselves better.

Back on topic:  I think JJP might do well over there, but I also think Senior Advisor to the GM is a good spot for Kevyn.  I see him as a knowledgeable "deputy" or "support" kind of guy that should never been given the reins as GM.  I think he's got the analytical chops but not the soft people skills for the GM position.

[Weave]

So, Im watching a short video right now about the Leafs poaching Daniel Alfredsson from Ottawa.  The interviewee makes the point that Alfie has intel on the entire Ottawa org and intel on the rest of the Atlantic division, and this intel is worth millions of dollars to a team that is struggling to get back to the playoffs.

I don’t doubt that Adams was hired for his intel on the Sabres, to help boost Boston in their battle this season for the playoffs.

[pastajoe]

2 hours ago, #freejame said:

I’ll always associate JJ with Mike Peca calling him a unicorn. 

Maybe he meant that his defensive skills are a fairy tale.

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, Brawndo said:

Officially official.

Adams is the senior advisor to the GM

 

I forgot about this thread so I put it in the general off season one but I do find this highly ironic as he's now the Senior advisor looking over Sweeney's shoulder the same way Jarmo looked over his. 

I suspect if things falter in Boston and they decide on a full rebuild then Sweeney is fired and he will become GM to sell off Pasternak, McAvoy etc. and start over the same way he sold off Reinhart and Eichel etc. here.