Two longtime German hockey stars—defenseman Marco Sturm and forward JJ Peterka—have finally shared an NHL locker room after years playing in different leagues without overlapping professionally. Their unexpected pairing came this summer when Boston traded two first-round draft picks to Utah in exchange for a player, marking the first time the duo has been teammates at the professional level. The move highlights how even established international players can find themselves on the same roster through high-stakes trades. Fans of German hockey will be watching closely to see how their chemistry develops under new team colors.

Marco Sturm and JJ Peterka have never crossed paths. According to both of their profiles on Elite Prospects, despite being prominent hockey figures of their native Germany, the two have never been professionally together until earlier this summer. That has changed. During the 2026 NHL Draft, Boston sent two first-round picks to Utah for the […]