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Analyst Identifies Star Winger as Ideal Fit for Oilers’ Top Six
The Edmonton Oilers could use another piece in their top six, and one analyst believes Alex Tuch is the perfect target.
All of the trade talk around the Edmonton Oilers this season has rightfully revolved around the goaltending, and specifically upgrading over the current tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. While those issues have yet to be solved, all signs point to a major move in net having to wait until the offseason, when the list of available options improves and expands.
Despite so much of the focus on the goalies, Edmonton, like every team in the league, has other holes in its lineup that could use a boost, and one of those areas is its top-six, particularly on the wing.
With that in mind, former NHLer, now analyst, Jason Strudwick, threw out a name he would love them to target ahead of the deadline, and that’s Alex Tuch, whose skillset the Oilers got a first-hand look at on Tuesday night.
“I’d like to see a little bit bigger body. You know, a guy I think they could get that would make a lot of sense is Alex Tuch. Obviously, that would be very expensive,”
The 29-year-old Tuch is a pending UFA in the final season of the seven-year, $33.25 million extension he originally signed with the Golden Knights before getting traded to the Sabres in the Jack Eichel blockbuster in 2021.
Alex Tuch Would be a Perfect Addition to the Oilers
As Strudwick mentions, the cost to acquire a player like Tuch won’t come cheap, but the fit might be worth parting with whatever it takes to bring him to Edmonton.
Tuch provides a combination of size, speed, skill, and smarts that very few players possess, and it allows him to be effective in all facets of the game.
He doesn’t rely much on power play production, which is good given that he likely wouldn’t crack the top unit that’s been the best in the league for years now anyway. On the flip side, he’s an excellent penalty killer and has shown the ability to produce when down a man, with six shorthanded goals last season.
While he’s not overly physical, Tuch’s 6’4, 219-pound frame as a power forward is perfectly suited for playoff hockey, which he thrived in during the early stages of his career as a Golden Knight.
There really are no negatives when it comes to Edmonton acquiring Tuch, so they’ll just have to hope that the Sabres remain near the bottom of the standings in order to be sellers come the trade deadline.
Next: Player Poll Reveals Front-Runner for Connor McDavid’s Future Team
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