Following Sabres Elimination in Playoffs, What Now for Alex Tuch?

The sting of a Game 7 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens may linger in Buffalo—but it won’t take long for people to start asking questions about what comes next for some of the bigger names on the Sabers roster, especially Alex Tuch.

ESPN writes that GM Jarmo Kekalainen “will have to prepare an offer Tuch can’t refuse if he intends to retain his top-line winger (with a potentially significant raise).” The question is, will it be enough? Or, will Tuch want to test the market, one that isn’t ripe with top-end UFAs?

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According to reports, the thoughts on this are mixed. Insiders like Elliotte Friedman believe Tuch will ultimately sign a new extension. Others wonder if the pending unrestricted free agent might have played his final game with the Sabres. There’s mutual interest in getting a deal done, but with July 1 approaching, the choice between staying in Buffalo and seeing what’s available is a difficult one to navigate.

Tuch’s postseason only added complexity. After a strong opening round against Boston, where he recorded seven points, his production disappeared in Round 2. Held scoreless against Montreal and finishing with a minus-10 rating, it was a tough look—though there are indications he may have been battling an injury.

The fact that he had a tough series against Montreal could pose a concern if the thought was to given him seven years on a new deal, especially at $10 million per season. The Sabres need someone who will be consistent and show up in the biggest games for that kind of term and money. Some believe he’ll need to take a “hometown discount” or the Sabres should move on. Tuch on the back half of that deal could be a problem.

Even so, his value around the league remains high. A consistent 30-goal scorer with size and leadership ability, Tuch could be one of the most sought-after names in a relatively thin free agent class. There is talk that the Edmonton Oilers would be interested, even if the money would be tight.

The Sabres Have A Long To-Do List

The Sabres enter the offseason with an estimated $12.9M of 2026-27 cap space, 25th in the league. Their list of business that needs to get done is long. Pending RFAs include F Zach Benson, F Peyton Krebs, and D Michael Kesselring. Their list of pending UFAs features Tuch, F Beck Malenstyn, F Tanner Pearson, F Joshua Dunne, D Luke Schenn, and D Logan Stanley.

Tage Thompson spoke about Tuch and praised him as a player the Sabres want to keep. “I can tell you that I’d love to have him back. He’s an ultimate teammate. He’s a leader on this team. He drives the bus for us. Guys in this room look to him. He’s vocal. He plays the game the right way. He’s a big, big reason we were where we were.”

Next: Berube Buzz in Edmonton — And Suddenly McDavid’s Future Feels Uncertain