The Buffalo Sabres are as hot as can be, a virtual lock to make the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons. They were even major buyers at the trade deadline, a significant shift in the culture of the franchise. Yet there is one thing that looms ominously over the Sabres: the Alex Tuch contract situation.
General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen did not trade Tuch at the deadline, though no one really expected he would in the midst of one of the best seasons in franchise history. Though there is still time for the two sides to come together on a deal, there is one major factor that may hinder the Sabres’ chances: a weak free agent market.
Weak Free Agent Market a Huge Benefit for Tuch
The Sabres are seemingly staring at a $10-$11 million-AAV range for Tuch’s next contract, a massive raise from the deal that pays him $4.75 million per season currently. Whether that is a good idea or not is up for discussion. What isn’t up for discussion, however, is how weak the projected free agent class will be.
At first glance, it hardly seems weak with names like Sergei Bobrovsky, Alex Ovechkin, and Evgeni Malkin near the top. That said, all of them are pushing 40 years old and Ovechkin may be heading back to Russia for a season or two before retiring.
That leaves Tuch as the premiere forward option with names like Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, and Bobby McMann as the most prominent after him. None of them is a 60-70-point player capable of playing elite defense. Tuch most certainly is.
With the salary cap going up and the Sabres facing a few issues fitting everyone’s salary under their organizational umbrella, other teams could be primed to take a run at the 30-year-old winger. It absolutely would not be shocking if an also-ran like the Chicago Blackhawks took a run at Tuch, driving his price into a territory the Sabres can’t match.
What Re-Signing Tuch Means for the Sabres
Unless there is a large overpay out there, the Sabres have to consider making an offer that would at least be comparable to what he might receive on the open market. Tuch remains a vital part of this team both on the ice and in the dressing room.
Related: Sabres’ Have Potential Contingency Plan if Tuch Doesn’t Re-Sign
Letting him walk, especially in the wake of this kind of season, could be devastating for the momentum the Sabres currently have. That’s not even mentioning the kind of hole in the lineup that Tuch’s absence would create.
Bringing Tuch back, even on a deal that is seen as an overpay, means salvaging the current momentum and having a serious window of contention. Realistically, The Sabres can expect 3-4 more good years of two-way hockey out of Tuch. An overpay to remain contenders during that time, especially with a rising cap, would be a more than worthy sacrifice.
Will a Late Push Get the Job Done?
The two sides continue to talk, though there hasn’t been any major progress made. Tuch grew up a fan of the team and has been through the worst of it, helping build things from the ground up. What that means in terms of a potential hometown discount remains to be seen.
The playoffs will also matter greatly. If the Sabres can win a series or make a run to the Eastern Conference Final (or later), it may compel Tuch to take something of a discount in order to return home and take a serious run at a Stanley Cup.
For now, the focus is on the stretch run and the playoffs after that. The further the Sabres go, the more Tuch’s contract situation will loom. For fans of the Sabres, the hope is that something gets figured out well ahead of the July 1 deadline.
