The Buffalo Sabres have to bring Alex Tuch back; they can’t allow him to leave, and the price may keep going up
Alex Tuch has put up back-to-back 33+ goal seasons (33 and 36), and three in the last four years (36 in 2022-23). He’s put up three goals and three assists through four playoff games so far. He’ll get some Selke consideration for his defensive play this year. His number may be going up if the Sabres continue to win, and his play continues. The Sabres may have no choice but to pay the man and get him locked up long-term.
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman, on Buffalo Sabres pending UFA forward Alex Tuch. If the Sabres and Tuch have a good playoff, the more they have to re-sign him. They can’t allow him to leave.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Matt Marchese: “Listen, I understand that there’s a chance that Alex Tuch does not get to free agency, but watching a performance like that (Thursday) night, there are 31 teams that are going ‘Boy, I really hope that he gets to free agency, because he’s such a difference maker.'”
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Friedman: “So what I think that, like for me, I thought the best thing to happen to Tuch, it was that they don’t sign him during the regular, I mean, I think obviously it would have been great for everybody involved if he got signed during the regular season.
But I thought his best, his best path to the biggest number he could get was, he enters the playoffs unsigned, and he has a great playoff. And then what’s Buffalo going to do? They’re going to have to do it, right?”
Marchese: “Yep.”
Friedman: “At least, that’s my theory. Like you guys tell me if you think I’m wrong. If they have a great playoffs and he plays well for them, how can you let them walk?”
Marchese: “Can I take, can I take it even a step further? I think that they had no choice but to do it, whether they had a good playoff or not. Honestly.”
Friedman: “Okay. I mean, that’s fair enough.”
Marchese: “But I think you’re right. He’s, he’s pushing the bar.”
Mike Futa: “But I think the number, the number…”
Marchese: “The number is different now, what Buffalo was comfortable with.
Futa: “Yeah, what Buffalo was hoping, early. I think this guy’s putting in a Sharpie, what I’m worth.”
Friedman: “Well the thing is, they’re still gotta to close it out, right? They still have to win. But again, and I give credit to (David) Amber for this, because Amber is one of the guys who really put it in my head. That Amber was big on Tuch for Selke, and he didn’t finish first in my ballot, but he’s on my ballot.
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And, and you know, if you look in the, in the game they won, the first one. He’s on the ice at the end of the game to get the empty netter. And (Thursday) night, he scored a huge goal.
Like, they have to close this out, and they have to win. But I like, I just look at this, and it’s like, the bet, the longer they go and the better he does. And so far, they’re up to (two), and he’s playing well. I just don’t see a way how Buffalo can’t do it.”
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