German ice hockey forward JJ Peterka joins San Jose Sharks for 2026-27 season under Marco Sturm

JJ Peterka, the German ice hockey forward, will join the NHL’s San Jose Sharks for the 2026-27 season under head coach Marco Sturm, marking a swift transition from the Utah Mammoth of the American Hockey League just one year after leaving Europe. The move, confirmed by German daily *Der Tagesspiegel* on Friday, positions Peterka as the latest European talent to make the jump to North America’s top league, where Sturm—formerly of Germany’s national team—will oversee his development .
Peterka, 24, spent the 2025-26 campaign with the Mammoth, Utah’s AHL affiliate, after a single season in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga with Eisbären Berlin. His NHL rights were retained by the Sharks, who selected him 34th overall in the 2023 draft. The forward’s arrival in San Jose adds depth to a Sharks roster that has increasingly looked to European pipelines for offensive talent, particularly from Germany’s strong developmental system.
The announcement follows a flurry of NHL activity on Friday, including the league’s annual draft, where Swedish prospect Ivar Stenberg was taken 60th overall by the San Jose Sharks as the second Swedish player selected . Stenberg, a 19-year-old forward, told Swedish daily *Svenska Dagbladet* he was “super happy” with the selection, citing San Jose’s “good things going on” as a key factor in his decision .
Peterka’s move also underscores the growing influence of German coaches in North American hockey. Sturm, who led Germany to a bronze medal at the 2024 World Championship, brings a structured, European-style system to the Sharks, where he has served as an assistant since 2025. The hire reflects a broader trend of NHL teams integrating international staff to bridge development gaps between leagues.
For Peterka, the transition represents a return to the NHL after a three-year absence. He last played in the league during the 2022-23 season with the Buffalo Sabres, recording 10 points in 38 games. His reunion with Sturm, a former teammate on Germany’s national team, could accelerate his adaptation to the North American game.
The Sharks, meanwhile, continue to rebuild under general manager Mike Grier, who has prioritized drafting and developing European talent. With Peterka joining a cohort that includes Stenberg and fellow Swedish forward William Eklund, San Jose is betting on a new wave of international players to bolster its offensive depth.
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