Peterka optimistic about Sabres next season after taking 'big step'

TAMPERE, Finland --JJ Peterka insists there are perks of playing at the 2023 IIHF World Championship that help quell the disappointment of ending his season with the Buffalo Sabres after 82 games.

One is the bonus development time.

Another is some peace and quiet.

Peterka, a 21-year-old forward who had 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 77 games as a rookie with the Sabres this season, has escaped motormouth teammate Jack Quinn, at least temporarily.

"I'm glad I have some time off from him," a grinning Peterka said. "He was talking way too much. Naw ... it's been a fun time with him in Buffalo. We spend a lot of time together."

The barb was sent from Peterka, playing for Germany to Quinn, a 21-year-old Canada forward. It's just playful banter, of course, between a pair of young Sabres that are part of a close-knit, critical, youthful core tasked with putting Buffalo back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a 22-and-under list that also includes 20-year-old defensemen Owen Power, a finalist for the Calder Trophy given to NHL rookie of the year, forwards Dylan Cozens, 22, and Peyton Krebs, 22, and 21-year-old goalie Devon Levi. There's also forwards Tage Thompson, 25, and Alex Tuch, 27, and 23-year-old defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

The Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season, finishing one point behind the Florida Panthers for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference. The Panthers lead the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final with Game 4 on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS).

Peterka said the Sabres aren't far off from competing on a similar level.

"One hundred percent," he said. "It's just great to be a part of that team coming up right now. Our goal this year was just to get better every day and then when you look at the standings, I think we missed it by one point, the playoffs. No one would've thought we'd come that close. I think team-wise we took a big step. On the other side, we grew some much together. It's been a good year.

"It's so much fun and has been so much fun playing with that young team, meaningful games, right up until the last game of the season. Being a part of that is just unreal because we know how good we are right now and how good we can be as a team.

"That's so exciting for, not even us, but the whole city of Buffalo."

Peterka is viewed as a breakout candidate next season.

"He's unbelievable," Quinn said. "Speed and hockey sense. He's super dynamic. He's one of the best skaters I've ever played with and, on top of that, he thinks the game well with his great vision. He's super easy to play with. He makes plays in tight and thinks the game at a super-high level.

"Off the ice he's a great guy, too. Super funny. Always smiling. High energy."

Peterka, selected by the Sabres in the second round (No. 34) of the 2020 NHL Draft, has taken that high-energy, speed-and-smarts game to the World Championship. He helped Germany advance to the quarterfinals with a goal and an assist in a 5-0 win against France on Tuesday and has a team-high nine points (four goals, five assists) in seven games.

"It's amazing to see," said Germany teammate and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, the 2022 Calder Trophy winner. "I think he's done a [heck] of a job being a professional on the ice, managing his body and being an important player on the Buffalo Sabres. Big credit to him, and he's obviously an impact player for us too.

"He'll make something out of nothing. Those are special players that you want to have on your side. He's very tough to defend."

He also wasn't done competing. He's back at Worlds after scoring one goal in six games in 2021.

"I love to play hockey," Peterka said. "It was pretty clear when our season ended, I wanted to come play for Germany. It's always a great time you have here. It's awesome playing for your country as well. Just enjoying the time here and enjoying some hockey, but at the end of the day it's the NHL, where you want to be really successful. We all dream to win the Stanley Cup from when we are kids. That will always be No. 1."