Alex Tuch might just be the crown jewel of this summer's unrestricted free agent class, and with the way things are shaping up, that scenario seems increasingly likely.
Throughout the season, Tuch and the Buffalo Sabres have maintained a steady dialogue, even after a mid-season change in the GM position. Current GM Jarmo Kekalainen and Tuch’s representatives are still in talks, but as reported recently, they haven't made significant progress toward a contract extension.
At 29, Tuch is wrapping up a seven-year, $33.25 million deal and is set to become a UFA on July 1. His contract includes a five-team no-trade list, adding another layer to the negotiations.
With the Sabres battling for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, there's speculation that Kekalainen might keep Tuch as a sort of internal rental if they can't finalize a new contract by the March 6 trade deadline. Buffalo hasn’t seen playoff action since the 2010-11 season, and holding onto Tuch could be crucial for their postseason ambitions. They might prefer to take their chances on re-signing him after the season.
There's still time for both sides to reach an agreement before the trade deadline, but as each day passes without a deal, other teams are likely to circle in hopes of acquiring Tuch.
In his 56 games with the Sabres this season, Tuch has been impressive, tallying 22 goals and 26 assists, totaling 48 points.