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Buffalo Sabres 75 Bold Predictions for 2023-24: Prediction #3

By Sion Fawkes

Oct 31, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) watches as Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) falls going after a loose puck during the first period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) watches as Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) falls going after a loose puck during the first period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alex Tuch had an outstanding season in 2022-23 for the Buffalo Sabres, and it’s safe to say 2023-24 will turn him into a top power forward in hockey.

Alex Tuch had a career year offensively, sinking 79 points and 36 goals as he became a pivotal part of the Buffalo Sabres high-octane approach. But unlike his linemates Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner, Tuch played a much better two-way game.

His 64 takeaways and 54 hits showed us that he wasn’t afraid to pitch in defensively, even if some of his possession metrics weren’t elite thanks to the team’s overall lack of ability to play effective defense. For example, the Sabres only had an 88.7% save percentage with him on the ice at even strength, but that number increased to 91.0% at even strength, so you can see how volatile things got.

This season, that will change as the Blue and Gold will put forth a better overall defensive product. And this will more than allow Tuch to further highlight his defensive strengths.

Buffalo Sabres winger will career-high in takeaways, threaten career-high in hits

In 2018-19 when he was still playing for the Vegas Golden Knights, Tuch logged 69 takeaways, a career-best that he will break in 2023-24. But he won’t stop at just a new career-high; Tuch will shatter the aforementioned number with 80-plus takeaways this season, averaging near or even around one per contest.

Since the Sabres will be more aggressive in 2023-24 as a unit, it will allow Tuch to play a more physical game. He was a big hitter earlier in his career, having recorded 99 in 2017-18 during the Golden Knights expansion season, and this year, he might just shatter that number.

Related Story. Buffalo Sabres 75 Bold Predictions for 2023-24: Prediction #2. light

Tuch only needs to average 1.21 hits per game if he stays healthy for all 82 contests to make it happen, and his tenacious approach will at least make it possible. The Buffalo Sabres have needed an elite power forward, but they already have one in-house with Tuch if he can indeed encroach the numbers listed in today’s bold prediction.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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