The Bruins have acquired defenseman Andrew Peeke from the Blue Jackets, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports. Columbus is acquiring 2015 first-round pick Jakub Zbořil in return, per TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Boston has also sent a 2027 third-round pick to Columbus in the swap, per an official release.
With the attachment of a third-round pick, Boston is placing clear trust in Peeke to slot into a solid role on their blue-line. The 25-year-old defenseman has operated in a fairly limited role this season, averaging just over 15 minutes of ice time across 23 games. He’s scored one goal and eight points in that stretch. While he’s seen a decreased role this year, Peeke is no stranger to serving on a top pair, averaging over 21 minutes of ice time in each of the last two seasons. Standing at 6’3″ and 210 lbs, Peeke has established himself as a hefty, physical defender capable of shutting down opponents in his own end. He made his NHL debut in the 2019-20 season but more formally played his first season in 2021-22, scoring two goals and 15 points in 82 games with Columbus. The Blue Jackets drafted Peeke in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
In return, Columbus receives Jakub Zboril – a player that’s earned infamy after getting drafted 13th-overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, a part of Boston’s three consecutive picks along with Jake DeBrusk and Zachary Senyshyn. The trio was immediately followed by the selection of Mathew Barzal, Kyle Connor, and Thomas Chabot. Zboril has since struggled to find a groove in North American pros, recording just one goal and 16 points across 76 career NHL games and 66 points in 213 AHL games. That includes the nine assists he’s managed in 31 AHL games this season, though he’s still searching for his first goal of the year. Zboril has scored one goal across the last four seasons. He now moves to a new club for the first time in his career, hoping that a change of scenery will also bring newfound production.
I like this for Boston a lot. Zboril is nothing at this point. Think Peeke can be very solid on a better team than the Blue Jackets.
Zboril ain’t great, but what does this Peeke dude bring to Boston? $2.75 million cap hit for another 2 years for a guy whose stat lines look wretched.
To be fair though it’s hard to judge a players stats when the entire team is garbage.
Pretty easy to tell his value when the whole team is garbage and he’s the guy they keep moving down the roster
Hopefully this works out for the kid but how do the Bruins fit him under the cap? Someone needs to go….
Forbort to LTIR
He has size and is tough… something the B’s can use.
While he certainly has size he played 80 games last year and had 22 PIMs. Not sure that qualifies as “tough” Also he was -41. I know it’s Columbus but….
Where are you getting “tough”??? I have literally never had that word cross my mind while watching him