The Buffalo Sabres are heading back from Boston with a 3-1 lead after an impressive 6-1 win in Game 4 and a chance to clinch the series on Tuesday night in Game 5 at KeyBank Center. One of the reasons for their success has been the play of Alex Tuch, and one insider believes his number is only going up, and the Sabres are going to have to match.
On Friday, Elliotte Friedman was on The Fan Hockey Show and was asked about Alex Tuch, as one of the hosts mentioned there are probably 31 other teams watching his playoff performance, hoping he reaches free agency.
"I think the best thing to happen to Tuch was that they didn't sign him during the regular season. Obviously, it would have been great for everybody involved if he got signed during the regular season. But I thought his best path to the biggest number he could was to enter the playoffs unsigned, and he has had a great playoff," Friedman said.
"And what is Buffalo gonna do? They're going to have to do it."
Alex Tuch salary demands are only going up with his playoff performance for the Buffalo Sabres
Friedman's comments came on Friday after the Sabres' 3-1 win in Game 3, and Tuch continued his incredible pace on Sunday as he added another goal and assist to his playoff total. Through four games, he now has three goals and three assists and is tied for third in the NHL with six points.
Going back to the middle of March, the reports were that the Sabres had "budged a bit" and gotten closer to the long-rumored AAV of $10.5 million that the Sabres' forward was looking for. The question now is, after this latest playoff performance, and assuming the Sabres advance, could Tuch be looking for something closer to $11 million?
A deep playoff run could work in the Sabres favor as well, though. Alex Tuch grew up in the area and is playing for the team he grew up rooting for as a kid. He has stuck around through the drought, and the Sabres finally look to be the franchise trending up, which could present the best opportunity at a Stanley Cup.
For now, both sides should be squarely focused on the playoffs and going as deep as they can. Once that is over, they will revisit the contract discussion, but as Friedman notes, it is hard to imagine that the Sabres don't meet Tuch's demands and make sure a big part of this team is returning next season.
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