Sabres Moving On From Alex Tuch, Exploring Sign & Trade, Favorite Named

It's the end of the road in Buffalo for Alex Tuch. The Sabres have come to the realization that they will not be able to re-sign the pending UFA, and are now looking at the trade market for a sign-and-trade to at least recoup a little something before losing him.

Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen said “Alex Tuch will be missed,” but the Sabres are moving on from the talented winger.

He added they will look at a sign-and-trade, with multiple sources indicating Washington as the favourite

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 24, 2026

Elliotte Friedman tells us that the Washington Capitals are the front-runners to land him.

Tuch posted his third 30-goal season in the past four years, finishing the campaign with 33 goals and 33 assists for 66 points. The two-way forward also posted a career-best plus/minus rating of +24. As Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen said, “Alex Tuch will be missed.”  

Many felt that clearing out the impending $10M AAV that Bowen Byram would be seeking on a new deal by trading him to Chicago this week might have cleared the way for Buffalo to make a competitive offer to Tuch. But it wasn't to be. 

The Western New York native wanted to stick around in Buffalo, but the Sabres weren't willing to meet his contract demands, which are said to be in the $10.5 million AAV range. 

Capitals are the leading contender to land Alex Tuck in sign-and-trade

The Capitals have already made a big splash on the trade market this week, landing speedy St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou. Bringing in Tuch as well to their top-six would be a huge boost, and might even be the tipping point to convince Alex Ovechkin not to retire just yet.