The offseason noise around Alex Tuch is getting louder, and his camp has clearly had enough of the buy-low conversation.
Tuch was on a milk carton as the Buffalo Sabres battled the Montreal Canadiens in a series that went to seven games but ultimately ended up ending Buffalo’s fairytale run. With the Sabres forced to head into the offseason sooner than they would’ve liked, Tuch has been front and center of trade speculation.
The Edmonton Oilers have been linked with a free agency move to pair Tuch beside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, but if the Oilers believe Buffalo’s star winger will come cheap, Tuch’s camp is making it clear that thinking is far from reality.
Scott Bartlett Pushes Back as Oilers Monitor Alex Tuch’s Contract Situation
Tuch’s agent, Scott Bartlett, directly addressed the criticism surrounding his client while speaking to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. After Tuch finished the second round without a point and posted a minus-8 rating against the Canadiens, many analysts began suggesting his next contract could fall well below earlier projections.
Bartlett strongly disagreed with that narrative. “It’s not like he was terrible. He had a huge blocked shot with no stick [in Game 7]. He created a lot. A few breakaways. It just didn’t go for him,” Bartlett explained. He added that playoff cold streaks happen even to elite players and insisted NHL executives understand the larger picture.
“He was very good in Round 1. These guys aren’t robots. This is the game of hockey,” Bartlett said, driving his point home. “It’s not like he was not trying hard or showing bad body language or being completely ineffective. It’s just the production didn’t come.”
Despite the poor finish against Montreal, Tuch still completed one of the strongest regular seasons of his career. The 30-year-old produced 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games while finishing plus-24. He was one of Buffalo’s top defensive forwards, recording 39 takeaways and contributing heavily on the penalty kill.
Still, the second-round collapse changed the conversation around his market value.
After producing seven points in six first-round games against Boston, Tuch went scoreless in seven games versus Montreal despite firing 26 shots on goal. Buffalo was outscored 8-1 at five-on-five while he was on the ice during the series.
Why Oilers’ Alex Tuch Dream May Be Far-Fetched
Former NHL winger Matt Murley believes this stretch will dent Tuch’s leverage in contract negotiations. Speaking on Morning Cuppa Hockey, Murley said, “I think [Alex Tuch’s second round play] definitely cost him some money.”
However, he also noted that teams will not completely overreact to one bad series because general managers evaluate the full body of work rather than emotional playoff reactions.
Murley also pointed toward Buffalo remaining the most logical fit long term, explaining that Tuch values playing close to home and understands that winning teams often require financial compromise.
“I think Tuch understands, like Sidney Crosby, that everybody’s got to take a little less to win. I believe he wants to be there. He’s got a family now. He grew up in Baldwinsville, New York. It’s an hour and a half from Buffalo. I think he really bleeds the blue and yellow.
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“I think it’d cost him some money if he was going to try the free agency market, but I believe he’ll still get exactly what he wants from Buffalo because it’s not going to be something too crazy.”
The Oilers currently project to have roughly $16.5 million in available cap space, but adding Tuch will require another major move first. Contracts involving Darnell Nurse or Tristan Jarry continue surfacing in discussions as Edmonton searches for flexibility while also pursuing upgrades in goal and throughout the top-six forward group.
