Buffalo Sabres

Alex Tuch Sign-and-Trade to the Capitals Confirmed

The Alex Tuch trade to the Capitals is confirmed, signing an eight-year contract worth $10.5M per season. Find out more now.

by
NHL Trade Talk
June 24, 2026

The Washington Capitals are acquiring pending UFA forward Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres, per a report by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. As part of the deal, Tuch will sign an eight-year contract worth $10.5M per season.

Elliotte Friedman reports, ‘Not sure how all the pieces fit yet, but Alex Tuch will be traded to Washington and extend “8 x $10.5M.” David Pagnotta posted, “Sabres getting a draft pick as part of the trade, which is higher than what Tampa got for Raddysh.” The return wasn’t expected to be high, given the Sabres were just trading his rights.

The Capitals are acquiring Alex Tuch from the Sabres, per @FriedgeHNIC 🔄

As part of the deal, Tuch will sign an eight-year contract worth $10.5M per season. pic.twitter.com/iLkQaz9gk0
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 24, 2026

The deal had been in the works all day Wednesday. Contract talks with Buffalo broke down over money — Tuch’s camp was firm on a deal comparable to the eight-year, $85M extension Adrian Kempe signed with the LA Kings, which proved too rich for the Sabres given their upcoming cap commitments to young players like Zach Benson.

Rather than let Tuch walk for nothing, GM Jarmo Kekalainen pursued a sign-and-trade, and Washington was the clear frontrunner throughout. The Capitals had already made a big splash by acquiring Jordan Kyrou from St. Louis in exchange for Connor McMichael, Milton Gästrin, and the 16th overall pick, and adding Tuch continues their aggressive offseason push.

Tuch spent five seasons in Buffalo, recording a career-best 79 points in 2022-23, and posted 66 points (33g, 33a) in 79 games last season, adding 7 points in 13 playoff games. He leaves as one of the more popular players in Sabres history, having arrived originally as part of the Jack Eichel trade with Vegas.

For Washington, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound winger gives them a proven top-six forward who fits well alongside their veteran core, with Ovechkin’s future still uncertain as the team appears to be preparing for a new era. Some are wondering if the Capitals are pushing this hard because they know that Ovechkin is not coming back.

Next: Something BIG Could Be Brewing in Toronto, Reports Insider About Huge Trade