The Pittsburgh Penguins should be in for a busy off-season after a tough 2024-25 campaign. Their top goal should be looking to bring in young, impactful talent as they look to get competitive again during the later stages of Sidney Crosby's career.
One clear area the Penguins should be aiming to improve this summer is their top six. It is apparent that they desperately need another scoring winger, and Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka could give them just that.
Peterka is currently viewed as one of the NHL's top trade candidates heading into the summer. The young forward is a pending restricted free agent, and he stands out as a prime player the Penguins should target for several reasons.
If the Penguins brought in Peterka, he would be a great addition to the club's first line with Crosby and Bryan Rust. Peterka's offensive skill could make him an excellent fit to play with Crosby, as this duo would have the potential to make some real magic together. Peterka would also greatly improve the Penguins' power play.
Peterka is coming off a fantastic 2024-25 season, scoring 27 goals and setting new career highs with 41 assists and 68 points in 77 games. With numbers like these, the 2020 second-round pick is emerging as a star. Furthermore, at just 23 years old, Peterka still has the potential to get even better, which should be appealing to a retooling club like the Penguins.
Nevertheless, if the Sabres make Peterka available this summer, the Penguins need to make a major push for him. He would give them a young star and potential long-term answer for their top six, which are both big needs.
