Buffalo Sabres Can’t Afford to Let Alex Tuch Walk
Right now, the Buffalo Sabres are riding a wave of momentum that’s hard to ignore. After a stretch that’s seen them go 18-3-1, the team has surged back into playoff contention and reignited belief in Western New York.
The building’s filling up, the energy is back, and the Sabres are finally looking like a team that’s ready to turn the corner. But with all that progress comes one critical decision looming over the franchise: what to do with Alex Tuch.
Let’s be clear-Buffalo cannot let Tuch walk.
Tuch isn’t just another top-six forward. He’s a heartbeat guy.
A local product from Syracuse who’s embraced the Sabres crest like it’s stitched into his DNA. He wanted to be here.
He chose to be here. And now that the team is on the rise, the front office needs to make sure he stays.
The buzz around the league is that contract talks are ongoing. According to league insiders, the Sabres want to get something done sooner rather than later-ideally by the end of the month. If they can’t get an extension locked in, there’s real concern they could move him before the trade deadline to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency.
That’s the kind of move that sends shockwaves through a locker room-and not the good kind.
From a pure hockey standpoint, Tuch is the type of power forward every team wants in its top six. He brings size, speed, and a scoring touch that’s helped anchor Buffalo’s offense during this impressive run.
But beyond the stats, he’s also become a leader, both on and off the ice. He’s part of the culture shift that’s taken root in Buffalo, and letting him go would feel like ripping out a foundational piece just as the house is finally being built.
And yes, it’s going to cost. The going rate for a player of Tuch’s caliber-especially one with his two-way impact and leadership presence-is somewhere in the $10 to $11.5 million per season range on a long-term deal.
We’ve already seen similar contracts handed out to the likes of Kyle Connor, Adrian Kempe, and Martin Necas. That’s the market.
If Buffalo wants to keep a key piece of their core in place, they’ll have to pay market value.
And they should.
Because this isn’t just about one player. It’s about sending a message-to the locker room, to the fans, and to the rest of the league-that Buffalo is serious about winning.
That this rebuild isn’t just about collecting draft picks and hoping for the best. It’s about building something sustainable, something real.
And that means keeping the players who’ve helped get you to this point.
Jarmo Kekalainen, now overseeing hockey operations in Buffalo, has a big decision to make here. This is his first major test in the role, and how he handles it could shape the Sabres’ trajectory for years to come. If he and Tuch’s camp-led by agent Brian Bartlett-can find common ground on a number that works for both sides, it would be a massive win for the organization.
If not, and Tuch ends up moved before the deadline, it could be a gut punch to a fan base that’s just starting to believe again.
Bottom line: Buffalo has something special brewing. And Alex Tuch is a big part of that. Now it’s time to make sure he remains part of the plan.