It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’re almost done with the 2025-26 season. However, there is plenty of hot stove chatter going around. Teams are trying to figure out how to make a deep run to the Stanley Cup Final like Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights have. However, there are going to be some tough decisions that will have to be made by general managers. The salary cap is going up to $104 million, but players are going to try and get what they are worth.
One team that has a tough decision to make is the Buffalo Sabres. This edition of NHL rumours deals with the latest on where things stand with the team and soon-to-be free agent forward Alex Tuch.
/All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Latest on Where Things are at Between Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch
Rumour: We gather the most recent information on the pending unrestricted free agent forward. The Baldwinsville, New York native is looking to cash in on a major payday.
Analysis: We’ll start with The Fourth Period‘s David Pagnotta’s appearance on the Daily Faceoff Rundown. Pagnotta notes that new Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen seems to be holding a hard line at a cap hit of $9 million or a bit above that number. The insider mentioned that Tuch is looking for a deal similar to a player that he’s been compared to.
Tuch is trying to get a contract similar to that of Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe. Los Angeles’ top Swede is getting $10.6 million in his new deal that will start in the 2026-27 campaign. Kempe was able to cash in on some great seasons and Tuch is hoping to do that. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman backed that up in a recent appearance on the KFAN Hockey Show.
In a recent article on The Fourth Period site, Pagnotta added that the Sabres aren’t willing to go over $10 million for the 30-year-old winger. Pierre LeBrun also seemingly corroborated this in a recent article in The Athletic.
Rachel Kryshak and Kristen Shilton both recently seemingly backed up Pagnotta’s claim of the $9 million deal recently on ESPN. It also appears that Tuch wanting something over $10 million and over was also backed up.
(Credit Image: © Alex Cave/ZUMA Press Wire)
What It Means
There is worry that Tuch will walk away for nothing after all of the work it took to get him. Tuch was originally part of the Jack Eichel trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. The lifelong Sabres fan has become a fan favourite and it would be a misstep for Kekalainen to lose Tuch without getting some sort of return.
It wouldn’t be unheard of to pull off a sign-and-trade with another team much like the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled with Mitch Marner and the Golden Knights. However, there would be a ton of moving parts to make a deal like this happen. Sign-and-trade deals are rare, but it could be something that may get revisited in the coming offseason.
If a trade or a signing doesn’t happen, there are plenty of teams that would love to sign Tuch to a new deal. Teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and the Seattle Kraken have been mentioned as possible destination. Both clubs have the salary cap space to give the Central New York native that deal that he’s seeking. However, does Tuch want to get a payday on a rebuilding team or does he want to take a little less to be on a contender.
The Sabres took a massive step forward and Tuch played a massive part in that. However, his struggles in the second round against the Montreal Canadiens might make some teams hesitant to give him the $10 million-plus price he’s seeking.
Main photo by: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
