Amerks Update | Peterka's career off to hot start

The future looks bright for rookie forward JJ Peterka.
The 20-year-old has flourished with the Rochester Americans throughout his first professional season in North America, and he has already made his NHL debut.
Peterka, selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, earned his first game with the Sabres on December 29 after an impressive start to the season with the Amerks. He's carried that momentum through the midway point of the season - he's currently Top 20 in AHL scoring.

"It took me a couple days to realize that I had made my (NHL) debut, and had played a few games," the native of Munich, Germany said. "But it was so exciting. I was trying to take in as much as I could from the older guys."
Although he didn't record a point in either of the two NHL games he's played in, the skill of the young forward was on full display.
"His speed is what impresses the most," Amerks assistant coach Michael Peca said. "Most kids his age, it takes time to get comfortable performing at top speed, but he already has it ingrained in him".
Once Peterka was reassigned to Rochester on January 1, it did not take him long to readjust to AHL play. That same day, he recorded three points (1+2) in a game against Springfield.
He recorded two more points (1+1) the next afternoon and was named the AHL's Player of the Week.

His 30 points rank him fourth among AHL rookie skaters, and his 22 assists are tied for ninth in the league overall (second-best among rookies).
Since making his NHL debut, he has 10 points (4+6) in six AHL games. He missed five games during that stretch due to COVID-19 protocols but returned to pot four points in a two-game set against Cleveland last weekend.
"I have a lot of confidence from being up there, and the play feels a little bit slower," Peterka said after his time in the NHL. "I had a better feeling for the game and a little less pressure."
Peterka is one of four Amerks to make his NHL debut with Buffalo this season, along with Jack Quinn, Casey Fitzgerald, and Ethan Prow.

As long as he's in Rochester, he and the coaching staff will continue to work on improving his all-around game.
"Rarely does a player come in as a refined, finished product. There's still a lot of work to be done to become full-time, impactful NHL players," Peca said.
"He's great when he has the puck, but when he gets to the NHL, he's going to spend 98 percent of the time without it. So you need to become a really good player when you don't have it."
Peterka says his communication with coaches and management has been very helpful during his development and he knows where he needs to be better in order to become an impact player for Buffalo.

He welcomes the challenges that come with trying to secure a spot full-time on the Sabres roster.
"It's all really exciting. We've seen it already in training camp" he said. "The young and talented players we have in the organization, it's exciting to be a part of it for sure."

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Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Michael Mersch | 35 | 18 | 18 | 36 | | 2. Jack Quinn (currently assigned to Buffalo) | 24 | 18 | 17 | 35 | | 3. JJ Peterka | 29 | 8 | 22 | 30 | | T-4. Brandon Biro | 28 | 5 | 18 | 23 | | T-4. Oskari Laaksonen | 31 | 3 | 20 | 23 |

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Goaltending leaders

| Player | GP | W | L | OTL | GAA | SV% | SO | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Mat Robson | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4.25 | .868 | 0 | | | Charles Williams | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5.62 | .817 | 0 |