According to reports, the Toronto Maple Leafs had expressed interest in acquiring forward J.J. Peterka before he was ultimately traded to the Utah Mammoth. The Athletic's James Mirtle indicated that the Leafs were involved in trade talks for the young winger. However, Toronto was unable to match the offer made by Utah.
The Mammoth acquired Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Michael Kesselring and forward Josh Doan. Following the trade, Peterka signed a five-year contract with Utah worth $38.5 million, carrying an average annual value of $7.7 million.
Peterka, who turned 23 in January, is viewed as a highly skilled and creative forward with significant upside. In the 2024-25 season, he achieved a career-high of 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 77 games. Throughout his four seasons in the NHL, Peterka has accumulated 150 points (67 goals, 83 assists) in 238 regular-season games. He was originally drafted by the Sabres in the second round (34th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.
The Maple Leafs' interest in Peterka suggests they are looking to fill a potential void in their top-six forward group, particularly with the possibility of losing Mitch Marner to free agency. The team may need to explore other options to replace Marner's offensive production. Some potential targets for the Maple Leafs in free agency could include Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers. Another player who could be of interest to the Maple Leafs is Andrew Mangiapane.
Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams stated that the team's priority in trading Peterka was to improve their NHL roster immediately rather than acquiring future assets. Mammoth General Manager Bill Armstrong said Peterka will help solidify the team's scoring and add to their young core of forwards.
Prior to the trade, there was speculation about Peterka's future with the Sabres, with some suggesting that the team might listen to trade offers if he wasn't interested in signing a long-term extension. Concerns were raised about Peterka's two-way play, with some analysts noting that he needed to develop into a more consistent player in all zones.
Ultimately, the Maple Leafs were unable to put together a package that matched what the Utah Mammoth offered, leading to Peterka's move to Salt Lake City.
