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Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Alex Tuch's $59M deal update could end trade drama and lock him in long-term with Sabres
Sabres may seal the deal with Alex Tuch as $59 million extension update emerges (Getty Images) The Buffalo Sabres are approaching a crossroads with one of their key players—Alex Tuch. As the Syracuse-born winger enters the final season of his contract, the front office is staring down a complicated choice: invest in a long-term extension or explore trade options that could aid their ever-stalled rebuild. Alex Tuch's future with the Sabres gets clearer with $59M contract extension in the works Since being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights, Alex Tuch has become a consistent force for Buffalo. His most recent campaign was a testament to that, tallying 36 goals and 31 assists. However, extending him won't come cheap. According to The Athletic, locking Tuch in for the long haul would likely require a seven-year commitment worth around $59.5 million—a deal that would stretch into his decline years. That's where the dilemma lies. The Sabres are not yet a team knocking on the door of championship contention. Committing such a hefty sum to a player nearing 30 only makes sense if Buffalo truly believes it will be a playoff threat in the next two to three seasons. Unfortunately, the franchise's long history of stop-and-start rebuilding offers little certainty in that regard. Tuch has at least made one part of the negotiation easier. He's been vocal about his desire to stay in upstate New York, giving the Sabres a leg up in talks. It's far more complicated when a player is already eyeing the exit. Still, the decision isn't just about desire—it's about direction. 'Another factor for Buffalo to consider is that there are very few teams selling right now, which could increase their return on Tuch, as some teams will be left empty-handed after the initial scramble of unrestricted free agency,' noted Josh Cybulski of Pro Hockey Rumors. He added, 'Buffalo could wait a bit after July 1 to assess the trade market and see if any moves pique their interest; if not, they could then consider an extension. ' With July 1 fast approaching, the Sabres must weigh short-term gains against long-term vision. A trade could accelerate their rebuild if the return is right. But letting go of a hometown star who wants to stay—especially one still producing—won't be easy. Buffalo's decision on Tuch could signal how much faith they still have in their current trajectory. Also Read: Florida turns into hockey heaven as Panthers throw another unforgettable Stanley Cup parade Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
New York Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What will next contract for Sabres' Alex Tuch look like? An early projection
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Alex Tuch has a lot of leverage. The Buffalo Sabres' veteran forward is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He played 82 games for the first time. He broke a record for shot blocks by a forward and led the NHL in short-handed goals and short-handed points. He did all of that while producing 36 goals and 31 assists. He was also plus-16, one of the few two-way bright spots on one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL. Advertisement 'He's typically a guy that leads our forwards in minutes, plays in every situation,' Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said. 'I thought he had a tremendous season and he loves Buffalo and wants to be here. So, he's a priority. He's a guy that we certainly hope to have for a long time.' Since coming to Buffalo as part of the Jack Eichel trade in 2021, Tuch has become a fan favorite. He grew up a couple of hours away in Syracuse and was a longtime fan of the Sabres. His gregarious personality and giving nature have made him an asset to the community. For three straight seasons, fans have voted Tuch the winner of the Rick Martin Memorial Award, which is given to the player who best demonstrates 'on-ice excellence, resiliency, and dedication to the community.' Tuch took on the added responsibility of being an alternate captain. He's one of the few players on Buffalo's roster who has meaningful playoff experience. He's one of the franchise's most important players on and off the ice. And since he's been in Buffalo, Tuch has also been an incredible bargain with his $4.75 million salary. That bargain is going to run out soon, though. Tuch, who turns 29 in May, has one year left on his contract. He's eligible to sign an extension on July 1. Asked about his contract situation the day after Buffalo's season ended, Tuch kept things open-ended. 'I haven't given it too much thought, honestly,' Tuch said when asked about his contract situation and possibly signing long term with the Sabres. 'I was really focused on this year. I had some goals in mind, playing 82 games and I try to grow as a player each and every day. I haven't given it too much thought. I think in the CBA, I don't even think they can talk to my agent until July 1 or anything like that. When it comes to that, I'm hands off. I let my agent do all of that. I love it here in Buffalo. I really enjoy my time here and I would like to win here in Buffalo. I haven't even really talked to my wife about it, honestly. That's the first person I'm going to have to talk to. We'll see if they say anything and we'll go from there.' Advertisement Tuch's contract feels like the biggest puzzle piece the Sabres need to figure out in their roster building going forward. Yes, they have some key restricted free agents to handle this summer. But Tuch's cap hit in 2026-27 and beyond will impact the type of contracts the Sabres are able to give those restricted free agents. Tuch should be the team's highest-paid forward on his next contract and has a chance to be the team's second-highest-paid player behind defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Clearly, Tuch has the leverage. But his contract situation isn't necessarily simple, either. There are a few factors to consider. Tuch is about to turn 29, so he will be 30 during the first year of his next contract. A seven-year contract would take him through his age-36 season. The Sabres are the only team that can offer Tuch an eight-year contract, but that would take him through his age-37 season. A contract of that length carries some risk for the Sabres. They have to consider how gracefully Tuch will age. Tuch's game is such that he should be able to stay effective into his mid-30s. The big key will be how well he takes care of his body. He said he did some different things this year in terms of nutrition and training to try to stay on the ice for all 82 games. If he continues to do so, maybe he can prolong his career. The way he plays at the net front, his smarts and stick on the forecheck and his shooting ability should all age well. His speed will take a hit at some point, and Tuch has also dealt with a lot of nagging injuries in his career. That makes an eight-year deal a bit aggressive, but stretching the contract to eight years might make the cap hit more manageable. The length of the deal will be something Tuch considers, too. He has to think about whether he's willing to sign what's likely the rest of his career away to play in Buffalo. Is he convinced that the Sabres are close to not only ending their 14-year playoff drought but on the path to competing for the Stanley Cup? If Tuch isn't convinced, his best path out is in free agency next season. That's when the cap will go even higher and he could cash in on the open market. Otherwise, a long-term deal makes the most sense for Tuch to maximize his total earnings. A deal in the four- or five-year range only makes sense if Tuch is confident he can maintain his level of play enough to cash in again at 34 or 35. Will he still be an $8 million player at that age? Advertisement According to Dom Luszczyszyn's player cards, Tuch's 'market value' is $7.6 million based on his production. The cap hit on his next contract will likely be bigger than that. It feels like $8 million is the floor for Tuch after St. Louis signed Pavel Buchnevich to a six-year deal worth $8 million per year last summer. Like Tuch, Buchnevich is starting that contract in his age-30 season. Like Tuch, Buchnevich is a sturdy, two-way winger. Tuch has more scoring upside, while Buchnevich brings a bit more nastiness. But the two are comparable players and that should be where the conversation begins with Tuch. But Tuch also has the leverage to ask for more. Last summer, Jake Guentzel signed a seven-year contract worth $9 million per year with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Guentzel was 29 at the time of signing but played the first year of that deal at age 30. While Guentzel is a more prolific goal scorer than Tuch, I'm not sure we can confidently say that $9 million is the upper limit for Tuch. For starters, Guentzel signed to play for a Stanley Cup contender in a no-income tax state with ideal weather. Tuch would be signing up to play for a perennial losing franchise in a state with high taxes and a noticeable lack of palm trees. Guentzel had the leverage of being a free agent on the open market. Tuch will have the leverage of being a player the Sabres can't afford to lose. Guentzel's deal was also about 10 percent of the $88 million salary-cap ceiling at the time. Tuch's contract will start in the year when the salary-cap ceiling is expected to be $104 million. Even if he's not worth 10 percent of the cap, a $9.4 million salary would be the equivalent of the Buchnevich contract, which was 9 percent of the $88 million cap when he signed it. A cap hit north of $9 million would put Tuch among the 40 highest-paid players in the NHL. He would also be one of the 12 highest-paid wingers in the NHL based on cap hit. Those numbers will be changing with the cap going up, but there's a limit to how high Tuch can push his number. The other two comparable players to Tuch are both centers. J.T. Miller signed a seven-year contract worth $8 million per year that began during his age-30 season. And Jets center Mark Scheifele signed a seven-year contract that pays him $8.5 million per year. That started in his age-31 season. The tricky part of Tuch's negotiation is how much the salary cap is going up. But I'd be thinking about his contract in terms of total value, and $60 million seems like a fair ballpark. That's just over $8.5 million on a seven-year deal. The cap hit probably goes up a bit if it's a shorter deal. And Tuch should be able to get plenty of trade protection in this deal. Sabres fans shouldn't necessarily panic if Tuch doesn't put pen to paper on a new contract on July 1. He could want to see how the offseason plays out before committing the rest of his career to Buffalo. But if Tuch starts the season without a contract, that could be a nerve-racking situation for Sabres fans. Both sides would be taking a risk by waiting. Every day Tuch gets closer to free agency, the Sabres risk losing him for nothing. But Tuch's value is also sky high right now, and passing on a life-changing contract is always a risk for a player when an injury could change things. Of the long-term extensions Adams has signed during his tenure, the majority have come late in the summer, before the start of the season. Dylan Cozens' midseason extension was the exception. According to PuckPedia, the Sabres currently have $43 million in salary cap space for 2026-27 with 10 players under contract. They have an estimated $67 million in cap space in 2027-28 with six players under contract. With the rising cap, the Sabres wouldn't have much trouble fitting Tuch into their long-term salary cap. Even if JJ Peterka has a cap hit north of $7 million and Bowen Byram comes in north of $6 million, the Sabres are still in decent shape in 2026-27. Zach Benson, Isak Rosek and Peyton Krebs are the only RFAs they need to worry about that season. Beck Malenstyn, Sam Lafferty, Connor Clifton and Jacob Bryson are the other unrestricted free agents after that season. And the following year, when the cap is expected to rise to $113 million, Jiri Kulich and Noah Ostlund are the restricted free agents of note. This will be a fascinating contract situation to watch play out. Few would argue that the Sabres should want Tuch in Buffalo as long as possible. But a variety of factors make the final landing spot a tricky one to project. We're still in the early stages of figuring out how teams, players and agents will handle the rising salary cap. Advertisement We saw Dahlin push his value all the way to $11 million per year, and Owen Power got $8.3 million per year. The Sabres won't be negotiating from a position of strength with Tuch the season he had and their situation as a team. My early guess is that if Tuch is willing to sign, he'll get at least $8.5 million on a seven-year deal.
Fox Sports
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
James Reimer's 33-save shutout leads Sabres over Hurricanes 3-0
Associated Press BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — James Reimer made 33 saves and helped lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. Reimer's first shutout of the season was the 31st of his career and first since Feb. 17, 2024, with the Detroit Red Wings when he made 38 saves against Calgary. Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka scored for the Sabres, who have won five straight for the first time since January 2023. Pyotr Kochetkov made 15 saves for the Hurricanes, who have lost three straight. The loss clinched the Metropolitan Division title for the Washington Capitals. Thompson extended his goal streak to five games with his 44th goal of the season at 1:32 of the second period. Tuch's sixth shorthanded goal and 34th of the season at 16:45 of the second extended his point streak to seven games. Takeaways Sabres: Buffalo has won 10 of their past 13 games and the late-season rally has been led by their top players, showing what could have been had they found their stride sooner. The Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Hurricanes: Forwards Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov returned to the lineup after short absences with injuries, but dropped their third straight on their four-game road trip. Key moment Tuch's shorthanded goal came on a faceoff play in the neutral zone after Ryan McLeod won the draw and Bowen Byram hit Tuch streaking up the ice for the break in against Kochetkov. Key stat Thompson has eight goals during his five-game goal streak, which is team high most during a streak of any length since Miroslav Satan had 11 goals in eight games in 1998-1999. Up next The Sabres begin a three-game road trip in Columbus on Thursday and the Hurricanes close out a four-game road swing in Washington on Thursday. ___ AP NHL: recommended
Associated Press
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
James Reimer's 33-save shutout leads Sabres over Hurricanes 3-0
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — James Reimer made 33 saves and helped lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. Reimer's first shutout of the season was the 31st of his career and first since Feb. 17, 2024, with the Detroit Red Wings when he made 38 saves against Calgary. Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and JJ Peterka scored for the Sabres, who have won five straight for the first time since January 2023. Pyotr Kochetkov made 15 saves for the Hurricanes, who have lost three straight. The loss clinched the Metropolitan Division title for the Washington Capitals. Thompson extended his goal streak to five games with his 44th goal of the season at 1:32 of the second period. Tuch's sixth shorthanded goal and 34th of the season at 16:45 of the second extended his point streak to seven games. Takeaways Sabres: Buffalo has won 10 of their past 13 games and the late-season rally has been led by their top players, showing what could have been had they found their stride sooner. The Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Hurricanes: Forwards Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov returned to the lineup after short absences with injuries, but dropped their third straight on their four-game road trip. Key moment Tuch's shorthanded goal came on a faceoff play in the neutral zone after Ryan McLeod won the draw and Bowen Byram hit Tuch streaking up the ice for the break in against Kochetkov. Key stat Thompson has eight goals during his five-game goal streak, which is team high most during a streak of any length since Miroslav Satan had 11 goals in eight games in 1998-1999. Up next The Sabres begin a three-game road trip in Columbus on Thursday and the Hurricanes close out a four-game road swing in Washington on Thursday.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alex Tuch Being Targeted By Tampa Bay?
The Buffalo Sabres could be involved in something more than a rental deal before the NHL trade deadline this Friday. GM Kevyn Adams has indicated that he has interest in signing pending unrestricted free agent wingers Jason Zucker and Jordan Greenway to contract extensions and has interest in making hockey deals that would bring back players currently in or ready to play in the NHL and one of the names apparently on a contender's wish list is winger Alex Tuch. Tuch scored in a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, and he is second on the Sabres with 22 goals this season. Although the 28-year-old has another year left on his contract, his name was mentioned by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman as a potential target of the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning and again on Saturday by Eduardo Encinas of the Tampa Bay Times. The Syracuse, NY native is eligible for a contract extension this July and would likely require a significant bump in pay from his $4.75 million salary. Tuch's age and relatively low cap hit for a consistent 20+ goal scorer are likely the reasons why he has been mentioned the last month, but for the Sabres to deal one of their core players, they would likely be looking for more than Conor Geekie or the Lightning's top prospect, Isaac Howard. Alex Tuch, 1-1 #Sabrehood #GoHabsGo — Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) March 2, 2025 Howard was Tampa's top pick (31st overall) in 2022 and leads the NCAA's Michigan State Spartans with 23 goals. The 20-year-old winger is teammates with Sabres prospects Maxim Strbak and Patrick Geary and is a product of the US National Development Program, which Buffalo has a lot of connection to. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
