John-Jason Peterka is a German-born center and especially right-winger with tons of energy and spunk along with the skill to match that unrelenting energy. He is considered a pest that knows how to position himself correctly on the ice especially offensively. Defensively he is still a work in progress but that’s to be expected. Most at 18 still have a part of their game they need to work on and for Peterka its defense hands down. He has though already shown improvement on this end and as an 18-year-old in the Del German. The German league is amongst men and not just his age group so, its to be expected he isn’t as tuned in on defense.
JJP still needs to grow and mature as a player like all 18-year-olds need to do. He is though unlike some coming from college is playing among men, for now, two years in the Del league. Playing 19-20 and now 20-21 in the Del German League getting him ample experience in a top-five league in the world. He also already showed up and showed out while playing in his age group. In the 2020 World Junior Championships Peterka had four goals and six total points in seven games. He stepped up and showed a confident 200 foot game in the World Juniors as well. Makes sense when playing against his age group he shows better on defense rather than playing among men in the Del. This is because Peterka still needs to build more muscle and strength to be able to hold his own for a long good career in the next level. Playing in the German league will help him to do just that.
Peterka for me due to his experience in Germany once he decides to come to the states, should be a quick riser. This is because he has strong skating that allows him to go through forechecks. He then himself is a very effective pesky forechecker. He to pair with that skating has very good playmaking skills and positioning especially offensively with a bulldog personality. This kid loves to pressure players and create havoc for the other team. That’s why to me at least it seems when he bulks ups and increases his defensive positioning, he can become a top 200-foot player. The main reason I think he lacks in positioning in defense is because his body is just not there yet. Once he puts on that aforementioned muscle, then it is likely because of his immense hockey IQ his defensive positioning will improve. Think about it as a 192 pound about 18-year-old going up against some big 220 plus 20-30 somethings in the Del you too would likely shy away some on defense if offense and playmaking are your cups of tee. Not because he wants to but because he just cannot yet fully be that 200-foot player. Becoming that player is the next step in his development.Â
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Wrapping up, Peterka is a hardworking bulldog personality kid who for all the reasons listed above would be a good pick for the Flyers at 23. Bob Mckenzie has him ranked an even 23rd and he is ranked 24th by Eliteprospects. He seems to always have a purpose on the ice never daydreaming, which as Flyers fans we all know AV hates. This is a player that this organization if they stay at 23 can groom into a very effective 200-foot player that is a great playmaker with a very good scoring touch. Peterka also will be a quick riser in my eyes as said before. He will not be a quick overall top six game-changer like some have him overall projected as well as myself. He will however from game one be a contributing player who gets to all the right spots on the ice helping to lead to chances for his team while being a pesky bulldog to the other team. That sounds like a Flyers player to me. Oh, yea he also has a chance to be a top late-round scorer showcasing that at World Juniors as highlighted above. Scoring is of course a huge need for the Flyers right now and I believe Peterka will not only be a good late-round scoring steal but also a 200-foot player steal. That is likely music to AV and the Flyers ears who rightfully so want their players to be multidimensional. Look out for Peterka as a possibility at 23 and if he is selected, be ready to be impressed Philadelphia.
