NHL Trade Rumors: 4 Teams Linked to Sabres' Alex Tuch if Extension Can't be Reached

Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres forward, takes a shot

The Buffalo Sabres are on a roll. With a six-game winning streak, putting them back into the thick of a very tight Eastern Conference race, and a new general manager in place, perhaps it’s time to start thinking good things for the Sabres' future. Starting with an extension agreement to keep star forward and pending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch around for the long haul. New GM Jarmo Kekalainen says that’s one of his first priorities in his new gig.

However, with Tuch looking for an AAV in the $10 to $11 million range, it might be difficult to pull off. If the two sides can’t get a deal done, the Sabres must act at the trade deadline to ensure they don’t lose their valuable power forward for nothing.

With that in mind, the insiders at The Fourth Period have listed four teams that they expect to be in hot pursuit of Tuch on the trade Market:

Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes
Dallas Stars
Los Angeles Kings

For the Maple Leafs and the Kings, both teams are in desperate need of an offensive boost.

Maple Leafs would love to land Tuch, but can they afford the price?

Toronto’s offence has been a complete mess of late (all season, really), and they’ve been scouring the market for a top-six forward. Just as Tuch is a local boy for the Sabres, being from Western New York, that’s also just down the highway from Toronto as well. The question from the Leafs' end, however, would be what kind of package they could possibly put together to entice Buffalo. The Leafs' draft pick stock and prospect cupboard are pretty bare.

For the Kings, they were just forced to trade away Phillip Danault for a draft pick, leaving them short a body up front. A center would be a priority, but the power forward Tuch would certainly be a strong addition as well.

The Hurricanes and Stars can never be counted out when a big-time player is on the market. It would surprise no one to see either of those teams trying to make a big splash at the deadline for the Sabres' two-way forward.