Buffalo Sabres Want to Keep Alex Tuch
Buffalo Sabres General Manager Jarmo Kekäläinen joined The Eye Test with Jimmy Murphy and Pierre McGuire to discuss Alex Tuch and the latest on his contract negotiations.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: The Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch
Pierre McGuire: “I don’t want you to break news on here, but if you could give us a little direction on where you are with Alex Tuch and the contract situation.”
Jarmo Kekäläinen: “We’ve made it very clear everywhere we talked about it that we want to sign Alex Tuch. He’s a big part of our team. He plays the most minutes among the forwards, kills penalties, and plays the power play. He’s a good teammate, a good professional. So it’s no secret we want to get him signed. It’s an ongoing negotiation, and we want him to keep playing for the Sabres for a long time.”
During an appearance on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio with Steve Kouleas and Anthony Stewart, Jarmo Kekäläinen stated they were working on some things to get him signed.
“No, but it’s no secret that we’re we’re trying to work a deal that keeps him in Buffalo for a long time,” Kekäläinen said. “He’s a big part of our team and a great hockey player and a good teammate and a good pro. So we’re just working on some things to get them signed.”
Tuch Could Wait Until After the Season
Emily Kaplan of ESPN was on the Point ahead of the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers game on Thursday and stated that the Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch are not close on a new contract but he will remain with the team as an own rental as they try to get a deal done after the season.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: Buffalo Sabres Need to Re-Sign Alex Tuch
Arda Ocal: “Meanwhile, if you head upstate, the Sabres are currently third in the Atlantic. What does that mean for Alex Tuch’s future in Buffalo?”
Emily Kaplan: “Well over this break, his representative did talk with Jarmo Kekäläinen and say, Okay, can we bridge the gap on a contract? And from everything I’ve gathered, they’re just not close. They’re not aligned on a number.
That said, Yes, he is a pending unrestricted free agent. But you look at the position that the Sabres are in, they’re trying to make the playoffs here. How much does that mean for the market? So I just don’t see a situation where he does get traded.
I don’t think that we’re going to get a contract before this trade deadline, but my gut says they keep on to him as their own rental and figure it out over the summer if he’s likely staying put.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Buffalo Sabres are playing the right way and are looking to end their 14-year playoff drought. Alex Tuch has been a big part of it. It would be surprising to see him traded. What kind of message would that send? The Sabres want to keep him. However, they know the number is somewhere between $10 and $11 million on an AAV. Tuch is from Syracuse, wants to remain there, and sees himself as part of the solution. When did the Buffalo Sabres have a player like that?
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