Overview
- Multiple NHL insiders reported late Friday that the Boston Bruins were finalizing a deal to acquire 24-year-old winger J.J. Peterka from the Utah Mammoth.
- Reports say Utah will receive multiple first-round picks in return, with published specifics pointing to Boston’s 2026 first-rounder (No. 23 overall) and a top-10-protected 2028 Florida Panthers pick.
- Peterka is under a five-year, $38.5 million extension that carries about a $7.7 million cap hit and posted 25 goals and 22 assists for 47 points in 82 games in 2025-26 after a 68-point season in 2024-25.
- Bruins management has publicly prioritized added speed and skill, and sources say Boston views Peterka as a top-six, pacey winger who could slot alongside established scorers and boost the team’s scoring depth.
- Reports described the trade as developing and near-final on draft night, with formal team confirmations and completed paperwork pending and the move expected to alter Boston’s draft flexibility and roster planning.