4 Rival Teams Linked to Top Pending UFA Alex Tuch

Alex Tuch spoke to the media today at the Buffalo Sabres exit interviews following their crushing Game 7 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Tuch has become the focus of attention around Buffalo now, as he is potentially the top pending unrestricted free agent on the market, and his future is unclear.

"Obviously, the next month or so, I have to make some decisions," Tuch told the media. He also said that extension talks were put on hold during the playoffs, but GM Jarmo Kekalainen has once again “expressed his desire to have me back. He’ll be in touch with my agent.”

But if Buffalo can't come to terms with Tuch, there are a number of teams that will be happy to spring for the $10M or $11M AAV that he will command on the open market. The free agent pool is thin this summer, and many pundits rank Tuch as the No. 1 option out there.

A gathering of top analysts and insiders from The Athletic projected four teams that will be hot on Tuch's trail once July 1 rolls around, if he hasn't re-upped with Buffalo.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Aaron Portzline writes that if either of pending UFAs Mason Marchment or Boone Jenner get away in free agency, Tuch would be a more-than-adequate replacement.

"Tuch, who has scored 30-plus goals in three of the last four seasons, would give the Blue Jackets a 'finishing' boost to help Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli carry the offensive load. He could also help create something in Columbus that’s long been missing: a legitimate power play."

Edmonton Oilers

It would take shipping out a major piece to find the cap space, but adding Tuch to the Oilers' top-six would be an ideal get, says Allan Mitchell.

"The Oilers need a veteran goal scorer with size on the wing... If Tuch plays on a line with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl as his center, a 40-goal season would be possible." Tuch notched 33 markers this season.

Seattle Kraken

"The Kraken, as their pursuit of Artemi Panarin illustrated before the Olympic break, want to add name-brand star power to their stalemate team. Tuch is the biggest name star player likely to be available on July 1, and accordingly, you’d expect the Kraken... to be among his primary suitors when the market opens," writes Thomas Drance.

Washington Capitals

Sean Gentille writes that Tuch "makes even more sense for the Capitals than other teams. They were in on Nikolaj Ehlers last summer, and Tuch would be a fit in terms of age (30, right in the Tom Wilson/Jakob Chychrun/Pierre-Luc Dubois zone) and role (top-six winger)."

Expect the Alex Tuch market to be bonkers, unless the Sabres find a way to lock him in.