He survived the upheaval, but never really caught on with the Wings. In 1981, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres where he finally found a regular niche at the NHL level. With more ice time and the great defensive artist Craig Ramsey as a linemate, Peterson soon refined his skills as an excellent defensive specialist with a deft touch for killing penalties.

In all, he served the Sabres for parts of four seasons until the Vancouver Canucks, with their sagging penalty-killing unit, came calling during the waiver draft in 1985. Peterson simply transferred his defensive game to the West Coast and successfully poured new life into the defensively troubled Canucks' lineup. He performed his magic until the Hartford Whalers make like the Canucks and brought the hard-working centreman to Connecticut where he played for two seasons before retiring in 1989.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame