Alex Tuch’s time with the Buffalo Sabres appears to be at an end, but hitting the free-agent market is far from a guarantee.
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen spoke with reporters on Wednesday and indicated that the pending unrestricted free agent’s time in Buffalo is over one way or another as the team considers a sign-and-trade to recoup assets.
“He’s going to be missed but we’ll be fine,” Kekalainen said via Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports a sign-and-trade is likely and the Washington Capitals are considered the frontrunner.
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports that if and when the sign-and-trade moves forward, Tuch is expected to land a deal in the same range Adrian Kempe, who inked an eight-year, $85 million deal with the Los Angeles Kings in November with a $10.65 million cap hit.
Dreger earlier this week the Sabres were trying to circle back on signing Tuch to an extension before free agency opens next week. Johnston reported Tuesday evening that even after the team opened up cap space with the move to send defenceman Bowen Byram to Chicago as part of a package involving the No. 4 overall pick, the sense was it still would not change the direction of talks with Tuch.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday afternoon the Sabres made a “pretty solid” offer to Tuch, but could not reach a deal.
The 30-year-old was noncommittal about his future in Buffalo at the team’s season-ending media availability last month.
“I don’t have a timeline right now,” Tuch said. “I’ve been so focused on hockey and playoffs. Once we finish here today, we’ll start having those conversations with my agent, my wife, my family and the Sabres.”
“I’m going to do whatever is best for myself and my family,” Tuch added, per 7 News WKBW. “I don’t know how the talks are going to go and I don’t know the future.”
Tuch was acquired in a trade with Vegas in November of 2021 after signing a seven-year contract as a member of the Golden Knights in October of 2018.
Tuch had 33 goals and 33 assists for 66 points in 79 games for the Sabres this past season, helping Buffalo return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. He was the third-ranked player on TSN’s Top 30 NHL Free Agents list released earlier this month.
Kekalainen: Byram wouldn’t sign extension
Kekalainen expanded on Tuesday’s Bowen Byram trade, telling reporters the blueliner was not willing to negotiate an extension with the Sabres before the trade to Chicago.
“We like Bowen Byram a lot, wanted to re-sign him,” Kekalainen said, adding he tried to convince him throughout the year to re-sign, but to no avail.
“We had a few deals in front of us we couldn’t pass up,” the GM said.
Byram, along with forward Jordan Greenway, were dealt to the Blackhawks in exchange for the No. 4 overall pick in this week’s draft as well as a 2026 second-rounder.
Byram has one year remaining on his contract at $6.25 million. The 25-year-old tallied 11 goals and 42 points in 82 games last season, his third season in Buffalo after coming over in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche.
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