Alex Tuch and the Buffalo Sabres are struggling to find common ground on a new contract, with both sides “aren’t in the same ballpark” according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. While both the team and player want to get a deal done before he hits free agency in 2026, the gap appears significant.
Tuch has been a game-changer since coming to Buffalo in the Jack Eichel trade back in 2021. The 29-year-old winger has put up his best numbers over the last three seasons, including an impressive 36-goal, 31-assist performance last year.
He’s been logging heavy minutes too – over 19 per game for three straight seasons.
Those kinds of numbers put him squarely in top-line territory. Add in his size and strong defensive play, and it’s easy to see why he’d draw serious interest if he hits the open market next summer.
So what’s he worth? That’s where things get interesting.
The biggest free agent winger deal this past summer went to Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed with Carolina for $8.5 million per year over six seasons. But Tuch might be looking at an even bigger payday – possibly cracking the $10 million mark annually.
The NHL salary cap is expected to jump significantly in coming years, which could drive his price even higher.
Part of the holdup might be that other big-name free agents haven’t signed yet either. Everyone’s waiting to see who sets the market first.
“These negotiations often work like dominoes,” LeBrun notes. “Once one major deal gets done, others tend to follow.”
For now, though, it looks like there’s still a big gap to bridge between what Tuch’s camp wants and what the Sabres are willing to pay. With both sides hoping to avoid free agency, they’ve got some serious negotiating ahead in the coming months.
