Bruins Notebook: Jets Preview, Peterka's Cap Hit and Minten's Big Payday
A trade that's starting to look pricey, a rookie's extension that looks like a bargain, and a trip to face Winnipeg headline this week's Bruins notebook.
Two offseason storylines dominate the Bruins notebook right now, and both come with numbers worth sitting with.
The Peterka Math
Boston acquired forward JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in a June 2026 trade, giving up the No. 23 pick in the 2026 draft and a conditional 2028 first-round pick (originally from the Florida Panthers) to get him. Peterka, 24, is signed through four more seasons on a five-year, $38.5 million deal — $7.7 million a year.
What did Boston buy? Last season in Utah, Peterka put up 47 points (25 goals, 22 assists) over 82 games — a full-season, every-night contributor, which is exactly what $7.7 million a year is supposed to buy. The number that sticks out is the other one: zero points in six playoff games. (Six games is not a trend, but it is the only postseason data point Boston has on him, and it's not a flattering one.) Whether that's a real red flag or just a cold six-game stretch is a question the box score can't answer.
The Minten Extension Looks Cheap Already
More comfortably good news: center Fraser Minten, 22, signed a seven-year, $50.4 million extension on September 8 ($7.2 million a year, running through 2033-34). The production that earned it is legitimately strong by the numbers — Minten played all 82 games in 2025-26 and posted career highs of 17 goals, 18 assists and 35 points, the most by a Bruins rookie since 2017-18. His plus-21 led all rookie skaters in the entire league. That's not a cherry-picked stat; leading a full rookie class in plus-minus over 82 games is hard to do by accident.
On the Schedule
Per an ESPN preview, the Bruins and Winnipeg Jets are set to meet in an out-of-conference matchup — no further details on the matchup were available. Separately, per ESPN's fantasy coverage, Boston's schedule is being flagged as favorable enough in October that the Bruins are getting recommended as an add for fantasy rosters. Make of that what you will (a schedule quirk is not a reason to believe in anyone, but it is a reason to check the calendar).
