BUFFALO, N.Y. — JJ Peterka is living the dream, with five points in nine NHL games after making the opening day roster, so it's understandably hard to wipe the smile off his face these days.

What You Need To Know

  • JJ Peterka began the 2022-23 season on a four-game point streak
  • Peterka feels comfortable with coach Don Granato's shifting lines because he played in a similar system in the DEL
  • Peterka's favorite Bills player is Stefon Diggs

“I'm so excited for every game,” he said. “That's the thing like I dreamed of my whole life. Yeah, right now I’m just living in that and enjoying every moment.”

But Sabres head coach Don Granato insists that Peterka has always had a pep in his step and a smile on his face, even when playing down in Rochester.

“He has that, as you would describe, that shine, to him,” said Granato. “That happiness — that's him. That’s his nature. He was that way in Rochester, and I can tell you what, he would rather be in Buffalo playing in the NHL than playing in the American league. But that's just the way he is. The way he carries himself.”

Graduating from the Amerks to Sabres has been an adjustment for the 20-year-old, but nothing beyond what Peterka can handle.

“I think the amount of games we play, we play like every second day right now ... I didn't expect it to be that crazy hard, like in the [AHL] we play a lot of games as well, but it’s like a little bit different,” Peterka said. “Just gotta take more care of my recovery time.”

Neither Granato nor Peterka are concerned about the highs and lows he's experienced in the first two weeks of his first true NHL season: four points in the first four games, then blanked for three games straight, it truly doesn't matter when or how the next one is coming. Granato is comfortable keeping Peterka on the same line as forward Dylan Cozens to continue facing high-profile opponents, instead of burying him in the back of the lineup to stack rookie minutes.

“For him, the more comfortable he gets and chemistry with linemates, and team, and team systems, and the league itself, familiarity level itself, the scoring is just going to be — it's there. It's there at any moment,” said Granato. “It wouldn't surprise me tomorrow if he goes out and scores a big goal or more, because he just is an offensively gifted player.”

Off ice, Peterka continues to ingratiate himself in his new city. He's a proud new member of Bills Mafia, and has quickly fallen in love with Stefon Diggs' play this season as he leads the league with seven touchdown receptions. Peterka enjoys wings, but has also embraced much more of the culinary scene in the Nickel City.