Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has made it clear that forward Alex Tuch is poised to leave the franchise when free agency opens on July 1, citing stalled contract negotiations that have persisted since last summer.
Tuch, a 10‑year NHL veteran, has been the Sabres’ most reliable offensive weapon, recording 20 or more goals in four of his five seasons in Buffalo and surpassing the 30‑goal mark in each of the past two years.
A Strategic Crossroads
With the team constrained by the salary cap and wary of committing a long‑term, high‑value deal to a 30‑year‑old player, Kekalainen is weighing whether to retain Tuch at any cost, explore a sign‑and‑trade that could bring additional assets, or shift the offensive burden to the club’s emerging talent.
The Sabres have already taken steps to reshape their roster, moving defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a top‑four draft pick, a second‑round selection and promising defenseman Louis Crevier.
The fourth overall selection places Buffalo in a strong position to acquire one of the draft’s most coveted defensemen, with names such as Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff and Alberts Smits expected to be in the mix.
Kekalainen, while acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the pick, has indicated he may hold off on trading the selection for an NHL‑ready player, preferring instead to let the young core — including Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich — continue to develop.
The move also underscores a broader narrative of transition for the Sabres, who are balancing the desire to remain competitive with the need to build a sustainable, home‑grown foundation for the future.