NHL analyst labels Sabres' Josh Doan as a 'beast' after contract extension

Josh Doan has exceeded expectations since the Buffalo Sabres acquired him alongside defenseman Michael Kesselring in a blockbuster offseason trade that sent high-scoring forward JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth.

The Sabres rewarded Doan's instant success by signing the 23-year-old winger to a seven-year, $48.65 million contract extension on Wednesday night. He's now linked to the franchise through the 2032-33 NHL season.

On Thursday, Harman Dayal of The Athletic selected Doan as one of the league's 10 most improved players, calling him a "wonderful revelation."

"Doan is a smart, hard-working, heavy winger with arguably the best two-way impact of all Buffalo forwards this season," Dayal wrote. "The details of his game are immaculate: he's a beast along the boards, using his strength, relentless energy and expert stickwork to dominate opponents in puck battles; he's a ferocious, disruptive back checker; and he extends plays in the offensive zone by recovering rebounds and winning loose pucks down low."

The 2021 second-round draft pick has recorded 35 points (15 goals and 20 assists) across 49 appearances while leading the NHL with 35 takeaways. He's also racked up 44 hits and 18 blocked shots while displaying a terrific all-around skill set.

Dayal noted Doan has recently been "hitting another level by adding some flashy offensive skills to his arsenal."

"Buoyed by the confidence of his breakout, Doan has surprised me with some of the high-end dekes and slick hands he's shown in high-traffic areas," Dayal opined. "He appears more dynamic as an offensive creator in recent games, which is a tantalizing thought for his long-term potential, because he'll be a top-line force if he can graft high-end skill onto a game that's already built on excellent fundamentals."

It's a remarkably bullish scouting report, and it speaks to the reason the Sabres decided to lock the Arizona native into a long-term deal before the price tag skyrocketed.

Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen sends a bold message to the Buffalo roster with a Josh Doan extension

Kekalainen made it clear when he took over the Sabres front office in December that compete level was the trait he'd watch most as he began laying out plans for the future. Giving a new contract to Doan, often the hardest working player on the ice, as his first significant move backs up that sentiment.

It feels like the contract also made a statement to everyone else: Are you with us or not?

It's a question aimed at anyone with a contract set to expire soon, but the one that stands out most is winger Alex Tuch, who can become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

By all accounts, Tuch has been seeking a long-term extension with an annual salary of between $10 million and $11 million since the summer. His camp, at least so far, hasn't budged an inch and appears willing to test the open market if Buffalo doesn't want to meet those demands.

While it's impossible to blame a player for attempting to maximize contract value, it's hard to build a championship contender if nobody within the core is willing to leave a little money on the table.

Doan did exactly that. Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic estimated the winger's market value at $9.9 million, meaning the new deal hypothetically saves the Sabres about $3 million per season:

Yes, there are a few differences. Doan still had years as a restricted free agent remaining, which gave him less leverage, and he's only now in the middle of his breakout season. Buffalo is make a bet his ascent will continue, but development isn't always linear.

Meanwhile, Tuch is an impending UFA, has a long track record of success and is probably set to sign his last major contract since a long-term agreement would carry into his late 30s. Again, given the circumstances, nobody would blame him on a personal level for waiting until the summer and taking the highest monetary offer he's given as a free agent.

The Syracuse native is a lifelong Sabres fan, though. He grew up watching as Chris Drury, Daniel Briere, Ryan Miller and Co. brought the franchise into Stanley Cup contention. He saw how crazy Buffalo sports fans get when their teams are in the championship mix.

Is there any part of him that'd be willing to take a few million dollars less, as Doan did, to remain with the Blue and Gold amid a surge that's placed them firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff race?

Kekalainen will likely keep working to get other young players signed, with Zach Benson being the most obvious candidate for the next new deal, but the Tuch situation will continue to hover over the front office until a resolution is found.

If Tuch won't budge, the Sabres' GM may have little choice beyond sending him to the highest bidder ahead of the trade deadline in early March. Letting him walk into free agency at season's end without getting anything in return for a prized player would be awful asset management.

Everyone — Kekalainen, his teammates and Sabres fans — wants Tuch to stay but the numbers have to make sense, and that'll probably require at least some concession from the two-way winger.