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Toronto Maple Leafs held trade talks with Buffalo Sabres: report

Adam Laskaris
Adam Laskaris
|
Jun 26 2025, 3:49 pm
Toronto Maple Leafs held trade talks with Buffalo Sabres: report
Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs, at the very least, appear to be active in trade talks these days.

With the draft set for Friday and Saturday of this week and free agency set to open July 1, the Leafs’ front office is fully on the phone lines in order to try to add some new weapons to their team.

But they’ve just missed out on a target from a divisional rival.

On Wednesday night, JJ Peterka was traded to the Utah Mammoth by the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday for defenseman Michael Kesselring and forward Josh Doan.

Peterka, a 23-year-old forward, had 68 points by way of 27 goals and 41 assists in 77 games this past season. He immediately signed a five-year deal worth US$7.7 million per season.

And according to The Athletic’s James Mirtle, Peterka was a player that the Leafs reached out about targeting.

US$7.7 million over a five-year deal is roughly similar to the contract Matthew Knies is expected to get as a restricted free agent in Toronto this summer, with AFP Analytics projecting a deal over seven years worth US$7.22 million per season. Given that the Leafs likely had no interest in moving Knies, it’s tough to imagine a similar package of players the Leafs might’ve thrown together for Peterka.

If there’s any solace in the deal for Leafs fans, it might be that their divisional rival is driving their supporters crazy once again.

Sabres fans, who are still hoping the franchise can return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, don’t exactly seem thrilled about losing another young star.

 

Looking to make a playoff push next year in their second season in Utah, the Mammoth appear to be quite content with the move.

“JJ is a highly skilled, creative, young forward with extremely high upside,” Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong said. “He will help solidify our scoring and add to what is already a great young core of forwards on the roster. Signing JJ to a long-term extension is another positive step towards building a sustainable contender here in Utah, and today is an exciting day for our entire organization.”

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