So, this is how it’s going to end for one Sabres fan favorite? A player who, just a few years back, we were sure would retire as a member of the Blue and Gold. Well, that’s looking less and less of the case as the March 7th deadline nears, if the latest rumors hold any water.
Just ask Cooper Godin of Canucks Daily, who recently wrote an article about a fan favorite who could likely find himself playing in British Columbia as we steamroll into the second week of the month. The player mentioned? Alex Tuch, a local boy whose presence with the Blue and Gold was something out of a Hollywood blockbuster.
You all know how Tuch got here, as he was part of that huge Jack Eichel trade about three and a half years ago. Tuch has been a productive and physical presence for the Sabres, registering 223 points and 93 goals, plus 210 hits in 258 games for his hometown team. And trading him elsewhere would put the Sabres one step closer to coming up empty-handed in the Eichel deal.
Will Alex Tuch be on the move or are these just rumors?
Of course, one article could just be smoke and mirrors, but Michael Augello of The Hockey Writers also mentioned Tuch in his article. Each also cited Elliotte Friedman as a source here, so this one has some weight to it.
So, while it would be disheartening to see Alex Tuch on the move, we can at least assure ourselves that he won’t come cheap. Of all the players wearing a blue jersey who could be on the move - Tuch, JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn, Dylan Cozens, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram, Tuch would yield the highest return.
Unless another executive is willing to give the Sabres a first-round pick, a high-end prospect, and a solid NHL-level player who can contribute immediately, it’s hard seeing anyone make that offer. But still, Tuch’s been an outstanding player for a bad hockey team.
Alex Tuch isn’t going anywhere unless the Sabres get a massive offer
While Tuch has been one of the few bright spots on the Sabres this season, with 47 points and 23 goals in 59 games, on most decent hockey teams, he’ll factor in as a second-line winger. He’s not a game-changing forward, so I’d only anticipate a team desperate to make and win the Stanley Cup Final offering so much compensation in return.
What kind of team would that be? Anyone whose championship window could be closing soon. The Washington Capitals jump out at me, and, of course, the Canucks, and I would even go as far as to say the Tampa Bay Lightning. Those would be the teams most likely ready and willing to put together a monster compensation package to trade for Tuch.
Yeah, it would hurt to see a hometown player like Tuch end up playing and potentially winning the Stanley Cup elsewhere, and it would also indicate yet another organizational retooling. But, that doesn’t mean the Sabres will end up with a bad deal in return.