Bruins passed on first-round picks to land shot for JJ Peterka, who shares German roots with coaching staff

BUFFALO — Dennis and Natalie Peterka were just looking to get their then 3-year-old son, JJ, out of the house for some fresh air and exercise.

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They took him to the ice-skating area at Ostpark in Munich for a few laps. Little did they know young JJ caught the bug during those early strides. He loved skating and when he caught a look at hockey players, he was hooked. His career path was decided.

“My parents always went to those public skates where they took me when I was younger,” Peterka told the Globe on Saturday morning from his Munich home. “And I remember one time I stayed out a little later and the hockey guys came on afterward and then as soon as I saw them, I wanted to try it out and I kind of stayed with it since then.”

Peterka’s latest stop will be Boston after the Bruins flipped a pair of first-round draft picks to the Mammoth for the 24-year-old slick winger with the wicked release.

“Seeing how much the Bruins gave up to get me — yeah, I think it’s just a really good feeling overall about how much they believe in me,” said Peterka, a second-round pick of the Sabres in 2020, who will be skating for his third team in three seasons.

Peterka said he hadn’t heard any rumblings or rumors that he was on trading block, so he was pretty surprised when his agent rang him around 1 a.m. Munich time with the news.

Then his phone started blowing up, starting with a call from Bruins coach — and fellow German — Marco Sturm.

“First of all, of course when a message like that hits you, it’s like you are a little bit stunned, but then I was just super excited,” said Peterka, who ended up watching the entire first round of the draft because he couldn’t sleep. “Especially with knowing a lot of guys on the team, knowing the coach and assistant coach [newcomer Matt McIlvane]. Yeah, no, super excited then, especially when I took all the phone calls [Friday] night as well, talking to them was pretty cool.”

Peterka has several connections to the current Bruins roster, including fellow winger Lukas Reichel, with whom he played against and with growing up in Germany. He also played with center Casey Mittelstadt and defenseman Henri Jokiharju in Buffalo.

He was particularly excited about reuniting with McIlvane, whom he played for with EC Red Bull Salzburg in the ICE Hockey League in Germany.

“With McIlvane, we go way back,” he said. “That was kind of always our dream, to be in the NHL together again since he coached me.”

As for Sturm, Peterka said he’s heard nothing but good things.

“Talking to other guys that played under him, they said he’s an awesome human being, awesome coach,” he said. “So yeah, pretty excited. Pretty excited to speak in my mother language with him.”

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After being traded to Utah last season and signing a five-year, $38.5 million deal, Peterka’s production slipped to 25 goals and 47 points after putting up career highs in goals (27) and points (68) the previous season in Buffalo.

“I think overall I wasn’t really happy with the season I had last year. I have way more to give than what I showed,” said Peterka.

Peterka’s power-play time dwindled in with the Mammoth, but he didn’t use that as an excuse for the drop-off.

“Overall, when it comes down to that, I take full accountability. I wasn’t happy with the way I was playing. I just have way more to give,” he said. “So, with Boston, I think the fit is going to be awesome.”

Peterka is looking forward to regaining his power-play prowess.

“I think I have a pretty good shot, but I can also make a lot of plays [on the man advantage], seeing the open players and the opportunity when to shoot,” he said. “I think when I’m on top of my game, I can provide the team with good scoring ability there, for sure.”

Peterka recalled how difficult it was to face the Bruins at TD Garden and looks forward to having the crowd on his side.

“I especially remember the one season where the Bruins had that record-breaking season [65 wins in 2022-23], I think we lost 7-1 in one game. I never had a game where it was so hard to play and with the atmosphere and everything there was just crazy,” he said.

Peterka projects as a top-six forward and is excited at the possible prospect of being on a line with right wing David Pastrnak.

“It’s crazy. I think especially playing against him, how good he obviously is and watching him and then maybe playing with him, that would be obviously a huge honor,” he said. “So yeah, that would be pretty sick.”

As the first hockey player in his family, Peterka’s come a long way. So, too, has his dad.

“So, I think my dad actually started playing hockey after I started,” said Peterka. “He plays in some men’s league, but yeah, that’s pretty funny.”

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