Tuch: We’re Going To Go For The Cup

The Buffalo Sabres have been the talk of the National Hockey League since early December. Coming into the 2025-26 campaign, the focus throughout the organization was to put the team’s league record playoff drought behind them.

In the first two months of the season, the Sabres were in the basement of the Eastern Conference standings, and the goal of reaching the postseason seemed out of reach.

Buffalo then began an improbable run, highlighted by a 10-game winning streak, which catapulted the club into the playoff chase.

Three games into the ten-win climb, general manager Kevyn Adams was relieved of his duties and was replaced by senior advisor Jarmo Kekalainen.

Although the promotion of Kekalainen provided an organizational jolt to the franchise, it has been the resolve of the players that has saved the season in Buffalo.

As confidence is building, the goal has shifted from just reaching the playoff tournament to something much more. Although remaining above the playoff line must come first, the mindset of the group is not stopping there.

“We’re coming in with a lot of confidence, “ Sabres winger Alex Tuch said. “Everybody’s come in trying to prove themselves. We’re trying to prove as a team that we’re legit. “We’re not just gonna go for the playoffs, we’re gonna go for the cup. That’s our goal to get better each and every day. That’s it, that’s the end goal. We’re not in here just to squeak in, we’re in here to try to keep winning.”

Tuch points to the potential and the growth of the players in the room as the fuel for the turnaround.

“I thought we had the skill in this locker room to compete with anybody,” Tuch explained. “But it was the will and the determination that I think has really kicked up a couple of notches that has given us a lot of confidence and just heightened everyone’s ability in here, it’s been awesome.”

While a lot of hockey remains to be played, the Sabres are exhibiting a poise that shows they are driven for the stretch run ahead.

With the intense competition in the East and competitors securing points every night, the Sabres know they must keep winning.

In the face of injuries impacting the lineup, the next man up mentality has been a winning formula in Buffalo.

“You see guys that are really figuring it out, and it’s awesome,” explained Tuch. “The trust we have to throw anyone out there in any situation, it’s huge. Even some of the younger guys have really stopped into those roles; they’ve done a good job so it’s awesome to see.”