Number:2
Age: 22
Birth date: March 17, 1998
Birthplace: Parkland, Fla.
Height, weight: 6-3, 194
Stats:22 GP, 1-2-3, 0.9 point shares, 53.40 xGF% at 5-on-5 per Natural Stat Trick
Contract: Signed through 2020-21 season (One year remaining before RFA status)
It's not hard to imagine a world in which Peeke mans the CBJ blue line for a lot of years to come.
He certainly showed he's capable with his 22-game cameo this season. Peeke rarely looked out of place, and while his game still needs some polish as every 21-year-old's defenseman's does, he showed a lot of things that have to excite Blue Jackets decision makers going forward.
Peeke was poised on the puck, positionally sound and strong in his own zone. He also showed some solid offensive instincts, and while he's never profiled as someone who will score bunches points in a season, Peeke looks to have the capability to push play when the opportunity presents itself and isn't shy about putting pucks on net. And as a right-shot defenseman -- something that's becoming harder and harder to find at the NHL level -- he profiles as a dependable player you can slot into your defensive lineup for years to come.
Time will tell how things go, of course, but add it all up and it was an impressive debut campaign for the young defenseman from Florida.
"He just plays," head coach John Tortorella said late in the regular season. "He makes some mistakes, but he doesn't let it affect him his next shift. I like his aggressiveness, his physical play under the hash. There are mistakes -- there are some plays where I think sometimes we can get out cleaner -- but this is a young man that we did not think was going to be thrust into this position and get the minutes that he's playing in the situation we're in in the season. I think he's handled himself really well."
Entering the season:Peeke came into the season expected to simply get his feet wet at the AHL level after a standout career at Notre Dame. He spent three years playing for the Fighting Irish, serving as team captain as a junior, and showed he was one of the top defensive defensemen in college hockey throughout his tenure. Peeke was expected to learn the pro game and hopefully grow his offensive capabilities while spending his season with the Cleveland Monsters.
Season recap:Peeke forced the Blue Jackets' hand before the season even began, as he showed up to a defenseman-heavy camp and found himself as the last cut before the season-opening 23-man roster was announced thanks to his excellent and poised play throughout training camp.
The Blue Jackets simply didn't have room for him at the start of the year, as the team kept eight defensemen and sent Peeke down to Cleveland, where he played well. Between two stints with the Monsters, he tallied a 5-11-16 line in 29 games, showing a little more offensive capability than he did while amassing 12 goals and 52 points in three seasons with the Fighting Irish.
Finally, as injuries mounted, Peeke got his call to the big club, making his debut Dec. 5 against the New York Rangers. He played in seven straight games before suffering a broken finger that cost him a few weeks of the season, then returned to the big club in February again thanks to injuries.
Peeke pretty much was a regular from that point until the NHL pause, and his underlying numbers show a player who impressed in what were third-pair minutes (an average of 13:51 on the season). Columbus had advantages in shot attempts, scoring chances and expected goal percentage at 5-on-5 with Peeke on the ice; in fact, the team mark of 1.78 expected goals allowed per 60 was the best of the team's defensemen.
He also showed some offensive vision at times, including in Calgary, where his 100-foot diagonal pass from his own zone to the opposing blue line set up a goal in transition for Devin Shore.
"Each game brings its different challenges," Peeke said near the end of the regular season. "I hadn't played against these teams before, so each team has different players you have to be aware of and stuff like that. Each game has challenges with positioning, reads, different types of forechecks.
"You kind of have to learn on the go when you're playing these teams for the first time. You do your video, but you just have to play hockey at the end of the day and that's what I'm trying to do."
With everyone on the blue line back to health, Peeke did not get into any playoff games but appears to be a big part of the team's plans for 2020-21 and beyond.
