Buffalo Sabres Can’t Let Alex Tuch Leave
Dave Pagnotta and Dennis Bernstein joined Steve Kouleas on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, and the Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch were discussed. Pagnotta mentioned the Sabres could trade him if an extension was not signed. All agreed it is a must to sign him.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Steve Kouleas: “You mentioned Alex Tuch. Now, that ship at one point looked like it was in the middle of the ocean. Now it’s close. So that changes over 10 in a row, one loss, and then the mini streak that they also were on. What is it? 13-2 (now 18-3-1), we are at with the month with the Sabres? Now it’s been so good, they just put themselves right with everybody else, at 50-50 of making the playoffs. So the Tuch thing is on hold.”
Dave Pagnotta: “Well, it depends on whether they can sign them or not. I think they want to figure this out by, I imagine, the end of the month. If Jarmo (Kekalainen) and the crew there in Buffalo, if they have an inkling that they’re not going to be able to get him signed, I think they trade him.
Kouleas: “In January?”
NHL Rumors: Priority Number One in Buffalo Sign Alex Tuch
Pagnotta: “Before the trade deadline. I think they do it this season, if they feel they can’t sign him. I believe they’ll move him rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.”
Dennis Bernstein: “But Koul, the optics on that. It’s a revival there. They’re filling the building, right? And that’s just great. And so now you’re not going to sign this guy. Yeah, you have to overpay for this guy to keep it going. Like that’s the signal to the fans, yes, we’re in this. We’re keeping our guy. We’re keeping a guy from Syracuse who wanted to be here. Who wants to stay here. Who built the home here. And now you’re gonna let him walk in free agency. You can’t do that if you’re Kekalainen. That’s the first big move: to let this guy go to free agency.”
Kouleas: “Does he want to stay, though?”
Pagnotta: “Tuch? I think so. He wants to stay if you pay me to stay.
Bernstein: “He’s the only guy they have to pay. Everybody else got paid. Pay this guy.”
Pagnotta: “And that’s what they’re trying to figure out now. Is the number 10? Is it 10 and a half? Is it 11? Is it 11 and a half? Like, they’re trying to figure that out now. Jarmo and Brian Bartlett, Tuch’s agent, are presumably going to figure that out this month and then go from there.
NHL Rumors: New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils
I would imagine they figure this out. Have a good indication as to whether or not they can pull this off by the end of the month, and then try to figure out over the Olympics what that deal actually looks like. If it’s again, if the money’s not palatable, I think they’ll move him. But they got to figure this out. And exactly to both of your points, guys, I think Buffalo almost needs to make this happen now.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Buffalo Sabres know what the price tag is for Alex Tuch. We have seen Kyle Connor extend in Winnipeg, Adrian Kempe extend in Los Angeles, and Martin Necas extend in Colorado. The price range is between $10 million and $11 million a season on a long-term extension. It would not be ideal to let Tuch walk to free agency, given how important he has been to the Sabres. Tuch is part of the solution in Buffalo.
