It looks like the Buffalo Sabres want to keep winger Alex Tuch for a long time, and NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently explained their contract strategy. Speaking on the Kevin Karius Show, Seravalli said the Sabres are using a key advantage they have in the NHL market during these contract talks.

“Financially, I think the Sabres have a pretty solid offer on the table, and they're trying to leverage the value of 8 years as opposed to 7 on the open market,” Seravalli said.

That comment shows one of the biggest contract advantages in the NHL. As per the current rule, a player can sign an 8-year extension with his current team, but other teams can only offer 7 years once he becomes a free agent.

For the Buffalo Sabres, that extra year could help convince Alex Tuch to stay. Tuch is 30 years old and is in the final stage of his 7-year, $33.25 million contract. He first signed with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018 and was later traded to Buffalo in 2021. His contract will end on July 1, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

The Buffalo Sabres have a simple plan. They may not try to outbid every team in salary, but they can offer something others cannot. They have an 8th year of contract security and long-term stability. That becomes even more important because of how valuable Alex Tuch has become for the team.

Sabres Have Strong Reasons to Prioritize Alex Tuch Extension

The Buffalo Sabres have strong hockey reasons to keep Alex Tuch. He is one of their most reliable offensive players and also takes tough defensive roles and leadership duties. 

This season, Tuch played 79 games and scored 66 points, including 33 goals. He remained one of Buffalo’s most reliable two-way forwards and a strong locker-room leader.

In the playoffs, he added 7 points and 4 goals in 13 games. These numbers show why the Sabres want to keep him and stop him from reaching free agency.

His 33-goal season showed top-line scoring ability, and his playoff performance proved he can play well under pressure.

Since coming from the Vegas Golden Knights, he has also become an emotional leader for Buffalo. That’s why Frank Seravalli’s report is important. It shows the Buffalo Sabres are not waiting for talks to finish on their own. Instead, they are using every possible advantage to lock in Alex Tuch before he reaches free agency.

Now the main question is not whether Buffalo wants to keep him. The real question is whether both sides can agree on a contract before July 1. We shall find out. 

Read more at NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Ankita Yadav