Jarmo Kekalainen's first order of business as Buffalo Sabres general manager should be calling Brian Bartlett, the agent for winger Alex Tuch.
Tuch is an impending unrestricted free agent and there's been no rumored progress toward a contract extension since Barlett proclaimed in October the sides pushed talks to the "back burner."
Buffalo can't afford to let the 29-year-old forward, who was born in Syracuse and grew up rooting for the Sabres, to hit free agency without getting anything in return. He'd be a high-end target for Stanley Cup contenders if the front office made him available before the 2026 NHL trade deadline in March.
So, the message from Kekalainen to Bartlett should be quite direct: Do we have a path to reach an agreement before March? If not, the new Sabres GM should begin working through the trade process after the league's holiday roster freeze ends on Dec. 27.
Keeping Tuch should be the preferred route, but that possibility is seemingly fading as the Team USA Olympic hopeful emerges as one of the top potential free agents available for next summer, which puts him in line for a massive pay raise from his current $4.75 million average annual salary.
Jarmo Kekalainen making an Alex Tuch trade would be a major splash to jump-start his GM tenure
The Sabres desperately want to end their 14-year playoff drought. That's why team owner Terry Pegula took the significant step of changing the club's general manager following a six-game road trip that saw the Blue and Gold win their last three games of Kevyn Adams' tenure.
Yet, it's important for Buffalo to remain realistic about that goal. It's tied for last place in the Eastern Conference with 32 points and would need to play consistently strong hockey not witnessed in Western New York in two decades to climb into a playoff spot in the crowded East.
The worst possible outcome for the Sabres is keeping Tuch while hoping to make a long-shot run into the postseason only to fall short and watch him leave at season's end. It'd leave a massive hole on the roster the organization would struggle to fill.
If the 2014 first-round pick isn't willing to sign an extension, Kekalainen has essentially no choice but to trade him before the deadline, regardless of the team's place in the standings.
The good news for the new leader of Buffalo's front office is that Tuch, who's tallied 28 points (11 goals and 17 assists) in 31 appearances this season, would command a sizable return on the trade market as Cup hopefuls seek a true game-changing talent.
Tuch is exactly that. Last season, he set a new NHL record for forwards by blocking 113 shots, and did so in a campaign where he also tallied 36 goals. That type of two-way impact would be welcome by every franchise around the league.
In turn, Kekalainen would likely have the ability to receive multiple key assets for the 6-foot-4 power forward, giving him an avenue to quick beginning rebuilding the roster in his vision.
The 59-year-old Finland native was never afraid to make bold moves while serving as general manager of Columbus Blue Jackets from 2013 through 2024, and Sabres fans will hope that aggressiveness remains at the forefront moving forward.
Again, if there's a legitimate chance to re-sign Tuch, Kekalainen should absolutely attempt to make it happen, especially given the star's ties to Western New York and his status as a fan favorite.
Otherwise, it's a situation that presents the GM with a tremendous opportunity to put his stamp on the organization right away.