The 2026 free agent class was expected to be historic with the players that were set to be free agents after this season. The group potentially was going to include Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov and Martin Necas. However, all four have signed extension with Necas being the latest.
The talent available is not nearly as deep, which is good news for players who have not yet signed extensions, including Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch. The NHL will see a big jump in the salary cap next season, so almost every team is going to have money to spend.
For a player like Alex Tuch, this gives him a lot of leverage in negotiations as he might now be the best player available among the players set to be free agents. The biggest challenge for the Sabres is probably not term or AAV but rather the performance on the ice.
Have the Buffalo Sabres already missed their window to re-sign Alex Tuch?
The reports for most of the summer were that the two sides were talking, but they weren't able to reach an agreement on a new deal before the start of the season. However, those negotiations were put on the back burner after the regular season, and the update was reported shortly after the Sabres started 0-3.
There certainly seems to be a desire from Tuch to remain with the Buffalo Sabres long-term, especially considering he grew up in Western New York. However, he is a competitor and will be 30 years old next season.
The next contract he signs might be the last long-term deal he has for his career. The chance to compete for a Stanley Cup or the belief that the next place he plays can compete, has to factor into his decision.
If the Edmonton Oilers don't win a Stanley Cup this season, a player like Alex Tuch would be a perfect addition and may just be that missing piece. Even worse might be a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs, which has been one of the better regular-season teams but has fallen flat in the playoffs.
Alex Tuch has never reached free agency in his career and with how the summer is setting up, now with limited top-tier options at forward, the competition might be too much for the Sabres to overcome to re-sign him.