The Buffalo Sabres agreed to a seven-year extension with one of their pending free agents on Wednesday, but it wasn't the player that fans were expecting. Most of the discussion about contract extensions for Sabres' players, going back to the summer, was centered around Alex Tuch, but it was actually Josh Doan who received the new deal.
A seven-year deal for Doan shows that the Buffalo Sabres believe he can be a cornerstone for this franchise, and even though the sample size is somewhat small, it is a smart gamble to take. He has had a breakout season with the Sabres and arguably has been the team's second-best forward behind only Tage Thompson.
Aside from his offensive production, with 15 goals and 20 assists, Doan does many of the little things that help make a team successful, thanks to his hustle and grit. At only 23 years old, he still has a lot of great hockey ahead of him.
Josh Doan's extension gives the Buffalo Sabres a little more leverage in contract negotiations with Alex Tuch
As pending free agents signed new deals with their current teams, Alex Tuch continued to gain leverage in negotiations with the Sabres. He quickly became one of the best free agents on the potential market and with limited options, there will certainly be teams willing to pay the $10 to $11 million AAV he is reportedly looking for.
Now that the Sabres know they have a player like Doan under contract for the foreseeable future, it doesn't put as much pressure on general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to get a deal done. In fact, it really puts all options on the table, from a new deal to potentially trading him before the trade deadline.
The extension for Doan doesn't automatically mean they will move Alex Tuch but it is now a question if Tuch wants to remain in Buffalo. He has spent the past five seasons with the Sabres and been through some of the lowest points in franchise history.
However, they look to be turning a corner and have been playing much better as of late. For Tuch, it makes sense for him to want to be on a serious playoff contender; having reached the Final early in his career with Vegas, the Stanley Cup remains the one major achievement missing from his resume.
The question is has he seen enough to believe that the Sabres are heading in that direction and will he bring his contract demands down slightly to stay with the team he rooted for growing up as a kid.
On the surface, the extension for Doan creates less certainty that the Buffalo Sabres will be able to extend Alex Tuch. However, it is a move that could actually improve the long-term trajectory of the franchise as now there are more options on the table for the Buffalo Sabres.