As Friday’s trade deadline approached, rumors swirled teams were interested in acquiring winger JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres.
Why wouldn’t they be? The 23-year-old is coming off a 28-goal campaign and has already set a new career high with 51 points in just 59 games this season.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams, however, has no plans to trade Peterka.
“Zero, zero truth to that, anything around JJ in terms of looking to move him or any of that stuff,” Adams told reporters Friday in Florida. “I think JJ’s a guy that’s a young player still.”
Peterka is a youngster in his third full NHL season who will earn a huge pay increase following the season as a restricted free agent.
“We’re going to sit down after the season, we’ll get to his agent immediately, say, ‘OK, where do we go from here?’” Adams said. “I just think he’s one our core young guys. We need to him to continue to get better, and we need to make sure that we’re also explaining to him how we’re going to make the team better.”
The Sabres this morning recalled forwards Isak Rosen and Josh Dunne from the Rochester Americans prior to their road game against the Panthers because they have a few sick players.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reporters rookie center Jiri Kulich will miss the contest. Wingers Jordan Greenway and Jack Quinn are both game-time decisions.
Rosen, 21, has scored 26 goals and 50 points in 51 games for the Amerks this season. He went pointless in two appearances with the Sabres. Dunne, 26, has compiled eight goals and 24 points in 54 games with the Amerks.
Meanwhile, newcomer Josh Norris, who was acquired in Friday’s trade with the Ottawa Senators, has joined the Sabres.