Buffalo Sabres 2023-24 Outlook: Alex Tuch (Monster Season Ahead?)

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch is arguably the most well-liked player on the team, and he could be their best forward in 2023-24.

While Tage Thompson scored the highest points total in 2022-23, Alex Tuch may have been the Buffalo Sabres most complete forward. If the Blue and Gold needed to score, they could count on Tuch. If they needed the top forwards to pitch in and play some defense, they could also count on Tuch.

Overall, Tuch scored 79 points in 74 contests, making him the second leading scorer from a points per game standpoint behind Tage and third overall, after both Tage and Jeff Skinner. Tuch was also phenomenal with takeaways, as he tallied 64 of them, the second highest of his career, and you can only expect that number to increase for the upcoming season.

Speaking of which, what can we expect from Tuch overall? Keep reading for a closer look into what we believe Tuch can do for the Blue and Gold in 2023-24.

Alex Tuch could pace the Buffalo Sabres in points at the absolute least

It’s highly likely that Alex Tuch paces the Sabres in points if he stays healthy all season. Following the Sabres upset win against the Florida Panthers on February 24th, Tuch missed time with a lower body injury, and he didn’t return until March 13th, with roughly one month to go in the season.

During that frame, he scored 17 points, which averaged to one point per game. Before that, he had 62 points in 57 games, or 1.08 per contest. That said, before his injury, Tuch was on pace for roughly an 88-point season.

With yet another year under him, plus the fact that he put up points at nearly the same pace when he returned from an injury that could have kept him out longer had the Sabres not been in the playoff race tells me there is a real chance that he will “battle” with Tage all season for the points lead. Not that he will score over 80 with the Blue and Gold’s lower lines also proving they can score, but don’t be surprised if Tuch at least averages close to a point per game.

Regardless of who ends the year with the points lead, it is safe to say Tuch will once again be the Buffalo Sabres most complete player. And it is also highly likely he challenges Tage and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin as the face of the franchise.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)