Alex Tuch
Having arrived in the Jack Eichel trade, Alex Tuch has evolved into one of the team’s key contributors. You often see him sharing the top scoring line with Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson. And it’s a position the 25-year-old winger can hold for the next decade.
Tuch didn’t take the ice for the Sabres until late December, but it didn’t take him long to get acclimated. And now, he’s a legitimate threat to score or provide an assist every single game.
He hasn’t disappointed, posting a +/- of 5, with 26 points in 33 games. He’s also aggressive when fighting for the puck, evidenced with his 27 takeaways this season. Tuch has also logged a career-high 19:05 of average ice time.
He doesn’t just bring a sound game to his hometown Sabres, he also brought a winning mentality following a four-season stint with the Vegas Golden Knights. And it’s the winner in Tuch that brings more value to the Sabres than anything else. He’s been to the Stanley Cup Final and has made deep playoff runs with the Knights.
The budding franchise cornerstone knows what it’s like to be in the spotlight. And his experience is impeccable for a young team like the Sabres when they eventually clinch a playoff berth.