The Buffalo Sabres played host to the NHL Scouting Combine last week, and with the ninth pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the club focused on a number of prospects who could be a target in Los Angeles later this month, but GM Kevyn Adams is also devoting a great deal of energy on free agent possibilities and a rather brisk trade market.
The names that have been the most frequently mentioned since the end of the season have been restricted free agent winger JJ Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram, but another player who could be on the move may be veteran forward Alex Tuch. According to James Mirtle of the Athletic, who is coming off a career-high 36-goal campaign last season, could be dealt with a year left on his contract if he and the Sabres cannot come to an agreement on an extension.
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The 29-year-old was acquired in November 2021 as part of the Jack Eichel deal with the Vegas Golden Knights and has 106 goals for the Sabres in 281 regular season games. At the end of the season, the Syracuse, NY native indicated that he wanted to be part of the group that wants to get Buffalo into the postseason for the first time since 2011.
Tuch is in a strong negotiating position with the Sabres, as he and Tage Thompson represent the most consistent scorers on Buffalo’s forward complement. It is likely with the salary cap going up and coming off a seven-year deal making a rather economical $4.75 million salary that the winger is looking for a substantial pay increase, but the Sabres may be holding the threat of a trade (Tuch has a five-team modified no-trade clause) over his head to get an extension with a lower AAV or less term.
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