The New York Rangers are reportedly targeting JJ Peterka and may be planning to submit an offer sheet for the Buffalo Sabres forward. Following their decision to part ways with Jacob Trouba last season and the recent trade of Chris Kreider, the Rangers appear focused on getting younger while staying competitive in the present and setting themselves up for long-term success, much like they have in recent years.
Additionally, the Rangers made a coaching change, replacing Peter Laviolette with former Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan. If New York does move forward with an offer sheet for Peterka, the big question is whether the Sabres will choose to match it.
Pursuing an offer sheet seems like a smart move for the Rangers — it could pressure the Sabres into overpaying to retain Peterka. On the other hand, if Buffalo opts not to match, they could receive significant compensation in return.
What the offer sheet would look like
If the Rangers submit an offer sheet for JJ Peterka valued between \$7 million and \$9 million, they’d be required to send their 2026 first-, second-, and third-round draft picks to the Sabres. Should the Rangers offer more than \$10 million annually, they’d owe at least three first-round picks to avoid the Sabres matching.
Buffalo holds strong leverage in this situation, and much will hinge on how high they’re willing to go to match a potential offer sheet. If an offer exceeds \$9 million, the Sabres might seriously weigh the value of the draft picks they’d receive in return.
With their available cap space, Buffalo could potentially sign a player comparable to Peterka or use the draft assets to swing a trade for a more established star.
Still, the best move for the Sabres is to lock up Peterka before the situation escalates. He’s a vital piece of their future, and they should prioritize re-signing him now to avoid losing him in restricted free agency.
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