Three NHL teams complete trades involving Peterka, Nichushkin and Tuch

Utah traded forward JJ Peterka after acquiring him from the Buffalo Sabres last year in exchange for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring. Peterka posted 0.57 points per game during his season with Utah after averaging 0.88 points per game in his final year with Buffalo.

Doan recorded 25 goals and 52 points in his first season with the Sabres while Kesselring was traded to the San Jose Sharks after one year in Buffalo in a swap of first-round picks.

The move left Utah with $21.025 million in projected salary-cap space according to PuckPedia. ESPN reported the transaction allowed the team to pursue additional top-six wing options. On June 25 the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired forward Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche.

Columbus sent a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Colorado in the deal. Nichushkin, 31, carries a $6.125 million annual cap hit for the final four years of his contract and recorded 17 goals and 49 points in 72 games last season. The Avalanche ranked sixth-worst in power-play efficiency at 17.1 percent during that season.

ESPN reported the trade gave Colorado additional draft assets and cap flexibility. On June 24 the Washington Capitals acquired forward Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres in a sign-and-trade. Tuch agreed to an eight-year contract extension with Washington at an average annual value of $10.5 million.

Buffalo received a third-round pick in the upcoming draft and the rights to unrestricted free agent forward David Kampf.