Buffalo is set to be the ‘real buyers’ at the trade deadline
The Buffalo Sabres smoked the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 on Saturday night, further reducing their playoff spot. They have missed the playoffs in 14 straight seasons, an active streak matched only by the New York Jets. But at the upcoming NHL trade deadline, the Sabres won’t be for sale, which should mean hometown favorite Alex Tuch is staying in town. NHL.com has the latest before the Friday deadline.
“The Sabers haven’t been in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2011 and are set to be real buyers for the first time in a long time. Perhaps the most important decision for them is the future of Alex Tuch, who could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and was talked about as a trade chip before the Sabers established themselves this season,” said the NHL competitor.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the same on 32 Thoughts, all but confirming Tuch’s future with Sabre. “Buffalo’s not a seller; they’re going for it. The bet on Tuch is, ‘He’s staying in Buffalo next week, whether there’s an extension or not.'”
Tuch was sent from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Sabers in the Jack Eichel trade. A native of Syracuse, he became an instant fan favorite despite the pressure to replace the former No. 2 overall pick. With 24 goals in 59 games this season, Tuch is approaching his third 30-goal season in five years in Buffalo.
But with his contract expiring after this season, the Sabers could have traded him at the deadline if they were out of the playoffs. But new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is pushing for the playoffs in Western New York. There may not be many sellers this year, but Buffalo can’t afford to sell given where they are in the standings.
The Sabers continue their playoff push against Eichel and the Golden Knights at home on Tuesday.
2026-03-01 20:34:00
