NOT RUSHING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WITH JJ PETERKA
Oct 15, 2021By Suzie Cool
It’s easy to sit back and judge the decisions that we have no control over. It’s not easy to sit back and wait to get the chance at something you’ve been working towards your whole life.
Two entirely different concepts, but in the game of hockey and professional sports in general, we see this happen all the time.
Our first example of this came just last week when rookie forward JJ Peterka was assigned to the Rochester Americans. Even after an outstanding Prospects Challenge that saw him put up two goals, diving into his first NHL training camp and appearing in five the Buffalo Sabres’ six preseason matchups during which he recorded four points, including three goals.
After all that, why not give Peterka the green light to start the 2021-22 campaign in Buffalo?
Simply put, because there’s no sense in rushing the process, or development pattern, of a player that will have plenty of time in the National Hockey League when he is 100% ready.
“As an organization we want our players to learn to do things the right way, while having success at the same time before giving them more,” said Amerks head coach Seth Appert when asked why it was important to not rush Peterka into NHL play just yet.
“It’s important as players mature – sometimes giving them so much early, no matter how good they look – then if they don’t find that success it’s hard to then go back and start the process over and then head to Rochester,” continued Appert.
No doubt, it was easy for Sabres fans, and Amerks fans alike, to get excited to see the star-studded 19-year-old make his pro debut in North America, fingers crossed, wearing a Sabres sweater at KeyBank Center. However, until Peterka gets fully acclimated to the smaller ice surface, playing more minutes, and gaining a little more confidence, he’s happy to be starting the season in Rochester.
“Getting confidence here, getting used to the smaller ice, playing more minutes, and getting more confidence there. I can just have fun playing hockey,” exclaimed Peterka when asked why it’s important to not rush his development.
On top of getting better adjusted to hockey on North American ice, Peterka wants to focus on his development with younger players that are going through the same types of adjustments as he is. Rochester gives Peterka a platter of younger players to be able to relate to, and grow with, while not having that constant attention that he’ll have when reaching the NHL.
“Here I can just concentrate on my development and get closer to the younger guys. Like when I’m in Buffalo, I want to get better every day, so I think I can focus a bit more here with not that much media and all of that.”
With Peterka being able to focus solely on his development in the American Hockey League, the second-best league in the world, it doesn’t hurt that he’ll have several veterans to look to and learn from as well. Appert is more than confident in the leadership core that he has in Rochester to able to teach Peterka, and others, the importance of daily habits, work ethic and more.
“There’s a reason that we signed a lot of the veterans that we signed like Michael Mersch, (Brandon) Davidson, Sean Malone, (Ryan) MacInnis, (Jimmy) Schuldt and (Ethan) Prow. These guys are such great role models.”
Appert then went on to say, “Michael Peca was talking about it the other day, how Michael Mersch is one of the best that we’ve all ever been around in terms of his daily habits, work ethic and how he goes about his business. Those are important things to learn as a young player and sometimes it’s harder to learn in the NHL if you’re not finding success at the same time.”
At the end of the day, it’s that simple. The Sabres organization wants to put players in the best position possible to see success and to stay successful, while gaining confidence. Appert is more than confident that Peterka will be immersed in an extremely positive culture while in Rochester that’ll help him flourish while learning what’s important to being a true pro.
“I think that Kevyn (Adams) and Jason (Karmanos) and Don (Granato) have a firm belief in doing things the right way and making sure that we’re doing things the right way down here so the young players that we have in our organization are learning these important, valuable lessons while gaining confidence and are immersed in a really positive culture that we’re trying to build in Rochester.”
It’s easy to sit back and judge the decisions that we have no control over. It’s not easy to sit back and wait to get the chance at something you’ve been working towards your whole life.
Two entirely different concepts, but in the game of hockey and professional sports in general, we see this happen all the time.
Our first example of this came just last week when rookie forward JJ Peterka was assigned to the Rochester Americans. Even after an outstanding Prospects Challenge that saw him put up two goals, diving into his first NHL training camp and appearing in five the Buffalo Sabres’ six preseason matchups during which he recorded four points, including three goals.
After all that, why not give Peterka the green light to start the 2021-22 campaign in Buffalo?
Simply put, because there’s no sense in rushing the process, or development pattern, of a player that will have plenty of time in the National Hockey League when he is 100% ready.
“As an organization we want our players to learn to do things the right way, while having success at the same time before giving them more,” said Amerks head coach Seth Appert when asked why it was important to not rush Peterka into NHL play just yet.
“It’s important as players mature – sometimes giving them so much early, no matter how good they look – then if they don’t find that success it’s hard to then go back and start the process over and then head to Rochester,” continued Appert.
No doubt, it was easy for Sabres fans, and Amerks fans alike, to get excited to see the star-studded 19-year-old make his pro debut in North America, fingers crossed, wearing a Sabres sweater at KeyBank Center. However, until Peterka gets fully acclimated to the smaller ice surface, playing more minutes, and gaining a little more confidence, he’s happy to be starting the season in Rochester.
“Getting confidence here, getting used to the smaller ice, playing more minutes, and getting more confidence there. I can just have fun playing hockey,” exclaimed Peterka when asked why it’s important to not rush his development.
On top of getting better adjusted to hockey on North American ice, Peterka wants to focus on his development with younger players that are going through the same types of adjustments as he is. Rochester gives Peterka a platter of younger players to be able to relate to, and grow with, while not having that constant attention that he’ll have when reaching the NHL.
“Here I can just concentrate on my development and get closer to the younger guys. Like when I’m in Buffalo, I want to get better every day, so I think I can focus a bit more here with not that much media and all of that.”
With Peterka being able to focus solely on his development in the American Hockey League, the second-best league in the world, it doesn’t hurt that he’ll have several veterans to look to and learn from as well. Appert is more than confident in the leadership core that he has in Rochester to able to teach Peterka, and others, the importance of daily habits, work ethic and more.
“There’s a reason that we signed a lot of the veterans that we signed like Michael Mersch, (Brandon) Davidson, Sean Malone, (Ryan) MacInnis, (Jimmy) Schuldt and (Ethan) Prow. These guys are such great role models.”
Appert then went on to say, “Michael Peca was talking about it the other day, how Michael Mersch is one of the best that we’ve all ever been around in terms of his daily habits, work ethic and how he goes about his business. Those are important things to learn as a young player and sometimes it’s harder to learn in the NHL if you’re not finding success at the same time.”
At the end of the day, it’s that simple. The Sabres organization wants to put players in the best position possible to see success and to stay successful, while gaining confidence. Appert is more than confident that Peterka will be immersed in an extremely positive culture while in Rochester that’ll help him flourish while learning what’s important to being a true pro.
“I think that Kevyn (Adams) and Jason (Karmanos) and Don (Granato) have a firm belief in doing things the right way and making sure that we’re doing things the right way down here so the young players that we have in our organization are learning these important, valuable lessons while gaining confidence and are immersed in a really positive culture that we’re trying to build in Rochester.”