Sabres Rumors: Peterka 'May Find His Way Out' of Buffalo This Summer

As the dust from the NHL trade deadline continues to settle, we're now learning that rising Buffalo Sabres star JJ Peterka "may find his way out" of Buffalo this summer. According to insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, on his Frankly Speaking podcast, although the team had no intention of trading him at the deadline, despite the rumors, they may run into a problem this offseason:

There have been a few malcontents in Buffalo that are unhappy with their current situation that would like a change of scenery. And I think Peterka falls into that category whether he's made a formal trade request or not...
He's got leverage at some point, he's a pending RFA. He needs to sign a new contract. So, they can make him a qualifying offer, they can offer him a long-term contract, but my question is, 'Will he sign it?' And if not, and he signs an Offer Sheet, then what? What are the Sabres gonna do then?...
He may find his way out whether the Sabres want him to or not.

The New York Rangers, says the insider, offered Buffalo a legit NHL roster player plus a first-round pick at the deadline, and one other team also made a legit offer, but the Sabres did not want to move on from the former second-round pick (34th overall, 2020 NHL Draft).

Now in his third season, Peterka is following up last year's 28-goal, 50-point effort with a 19-goal campaign through 62 games, already with a career-high 51 points. He's also getting nearly two minutes more ice time this season than last year.

As Peterka comes off his entry-level contract, he's certainly on some other teams' radars as we enter what some are calling the Summer of the Offer Sheet. As Seravalli sums up, this is going to be a storyline to watch "as the Sabres pick through the rubble of what is yet another really disappointing season."