The Buffalo Sabres finally secured their first victory on Wednesday with an 8-4 rout of Ottawa. However, the franchise remains in a precarious position with a 1-3 record and is at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers visit Buffalo next, adding urgency to the Sabres’ early-season struggles. Meanwhile, an insider provided an update on speculation linking one of Buffalo’s top forwards to the Edmonton Oilers.
What’s the Latest on the Oilers’ Pursuit of Sabres Forward Alex Tuch?
The Sabres endured a disastrous start to their campaign. On opening night, the franchise lost its season opener 4-0 to the New York Rangers. Buffalo then suffered consecutive 3-1 defeats to Colorado and Boston before Wednesday’s breakthrough.
The victory came courtesy of Zach Benson’s four-assist performance in the high-scoring affair against Ottawa. Right-winger Alex Tuch also impressed in the contest with a goal and an assist. However, speculation continues to link Tuch to the Edmonton Oilers.
Insider David Pagnotta recently addressed the situation. Pagnotta joined Jeff Marek on the latest episode of “The Sheet” to discuss Buffalo’s struggles and their implications for Tuch’s future. “I think for Alex Tuch, yeah, he’s interested in staying, and as Brian confirmed, has not closed the door by any stretch on the Sabres,” he said. However, Pagnotta warned that Buffalo must clarify the franchise’s direction. He continued, “That’s the sense that I’ve been getting, and you know what, Jeff, if there are, you know, some markets that have a tax, Buffalo also has the Sabres tax.”
He referenced the franchise’s prolonged struggles, including a 14-year playoff drought. “Based on what’s going on right now and how long it’s been a problem in that market from just the hockey perspective itself,” Pagnotta said.
Pagnotta noted that with fewer quality free agents available next summer, Tuch is closely monitoring Buffalo’s progress. He added, “You know, he’s thinking if this team isn’t going to start trending in the right direction in the very near future, I might as well take my game to July 1 and cash in big time.”
According to the insider, multiple teams believe Tuch will command significant compensation to remain in Buffalo. The price tag wouldn’t just reach $10 million annually but could approach $11-12 million for him to stay with the Sabres.
With Tuch becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer, Buffalo has one season to convince him to remain. Otherwise, they risk losing him on July 1, 2026. With the Panthers being their next opponent, they will see where they stand currently.
