Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images
Basic Player Overview
2019/20 Team: EHC Red Bull München (DEL)
Position: Left Wing
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 192 lbs
Handedness: Left
Introduction
John-Jason Peterka is a München-native hockey player, who’s currently playing for the EHC München in the DEL (the highest senior league in Germany). Last year he absolutely dominated the Czech junior league with 94 points in 48 games. For those who are wondering – he played for RB Hockey Akademie Salzburg. Yes, that’s the Austrian team, but they have a deal with the Czech Ice Hockey Federation. He won the league’s individual productivity by 14 points. He needed to do a step forward, DEL was the next goal. He traveled back to München and had a great season. He collected 11 points in 42 games (7 goals) and played in the first line when the season was coming into the end. These numbers are not the best, but I have to have in mind, that he played for the best team in the country. EHC RB München finished first with 108 points in 52 games (3P if win), 6 points ahead of the second Mannheim. He also appeared at World Juniors where he ended up being the second most productive German player with 6 points (4-2-6) behind Dominik Bokk (Hurricanes prospect). He’s a hard-working winger who has the complete package of being two-way forechecking forward. He’s a very rare type of a player in DY.
Skating
Peterka is not the best skater coming out of this draft, he doesn’t care to look good when he’s skating. He has a very specific style with a wide stance, but it actually might help him. For him, it would be very important to leave him like that and not try to change his skating. He’s pretty fast when he’s skating in a straight line especially without the puck. He uses his low centroid to evaluate opponent’s hits, he’s very strong on his feet. On the other hand, he’s not afraid to hit guys along the boards. He’s not going to brake when he’s coming to the player.
He’s like a lion waiting for his loot. When the referee drops the puck, he switches his motor on and the first three steps are tremendously quick. Speed is his best treat when we’re talking about skating. He’s fast, but he can also work with that and change the pace of the game, mainly with the puck on his blade. He has a decent transition and zone-entries, even better than Tim Stützle. He’s almost always the first guy at the loose puck.
This is a typical zone-to-zone transition from JJ Peterka. He picks up a loose puck, uses his acceleration as his weapon once again, drives around a defender, and scores a beauty.
And as a perfect example, this is practically his first game at the very beginning of the season. This clip is from a game in early September in Champions Hockey League, when he was trying to persuade the coach and earn a spot in the lineup. He wanted to simplify his game and evaluate losing pucks. In the clip, he used his great speed to get in front of a defender by jogging a puck all over the neutral zone. He ended the play with a shot from a bad angle.
Hockey IQ
This is a very interesting part of Peterka’s game. When he was playing in juniors, he was one of the smartest guys I’ve ever seen playing. So the potential is tremendously high. First of all, you have to have in mind, that he was fighting for a spot in men’s league, he had to play like a man. So there was a time, especially at the beginning of the season, when he was just too focused on doing everything right. It’s definitely a bad thing, but for a young guy like Peterka, it ties his hands sometimes. But don’t get me wrong. When he took his confidence back, he was so useful in almost every aspect in game. Defensively and offensively. He knows when to put a stick into the play when to rush from his own zone when to just chip a pass. Again, this complete package is very rare to see. He’s pretty smart with and without a puck as well, you don’t ever see him being selfish or rude on his teammates.
Playmaking Ability
First of all, a little comparison with Stützle and Reichel again. All of them have more than 70 % pass percentage, but in case of the total amount of passes, there is a huge gap between Peterka-Stützle duo and Reichel. The duo is able to produce around 50 passes per 60 minutes, but Reichel is only on the half-mark.
But to be honest, and everybody should’ve already known this, Reichel and especially Stützle have higher playmaking-potential. Peterka is more of a responsible and reliable player and he also carries this into the playmaking. His passes are accurate, he’s unselfish but he’s also able to produce a high-danger pass. He won’t blow your mind with an unbelievable pass, but he also won’t put your team into the trouble by a horrific turnover.
Physicality
Peterka is 5’11’’ 192 lbs guy. As an 18 year old, he has good size. He has strong legs, which helps him so much in skating. He’s not afraid to put his body into the dirty areas. Yes, there is some inconsistency in every single aspect including physicality, unfortunately shift-to-shift, but he was getting better and better when the season was on. He’s an intense player with a lot of energy not only into the offense, but also into the defensive duties.
Shot
Peterka is definitely not a goal-scorer. He won’t be at the top of the right circle on the power play. But he can score some pretty important goals, he has a huge potential to be that guy, who scores from a short distance around the net. His shooting ability isn’t spectacular and he also sometimes shoots from a dead angle, but he has a decent shot selection. He doesn’t need a tremendous and powerful shot when he’s able to find open space and produce a good one-timer. He plays the simple game so don’t expect amazing dekes or beauty shots of the iron. But when he has an opportunity to get a puck into the net, he’ll do so.
Another perfect example of his shooting style. It’s not about his shot but about finding open spaces. He was defended by Jan Jeník but he changed a direction, made two powerful strides, picked up a pass from Tim Stützle, and released an accurate shot.
DY Environment
Peterka took a big step from a Czech U19 league into the DEL. He had to completely transform his style of playing hockey. He gained muscle and become a respectable man. He played most of the time with Maximilian Daubner and another young German Justin Schütz. At the end of the season, he was moved up to the first line and I assume that will be his spot for next season.
Draft Rankings
#34 — Recruit Scouting
#24 — EliteProspects
#17 — McKeen’s Hockey
#41 — Future Considerations
#7 — NHL Central Scouting (EU Skaters)
#23 – TSN/Bob McKenzie
Expected Round of Selection
John-Jason Peterka is expected to be selected in the late first round or at the beginning of the second. If he falls off the first round, it’s going to be a steal for a team who gets him later. He’s fighting with Lukas Reichel of being the second-best drafted German player at this-year’s draft behind Stützle.
NHL Comparable and Projection
Rickard Rakell, Nick Foligno.
Peterka is a pretty exciting player. As mentioned, he isn’t going to blow your mind with skills and dekes and so on, but he’s so mature on his age. He has the potential to become a top-six winger, but he’d probably end up being in the middle-six role. Also, any team could use him in the power play but also in the penalty kill.