For Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch, the focus is on his team and the playoffs. The versatile forward is currently on an expiring contract and Tuch and the Sabres have yet to reach an agreement on a new contract.
The Syracuse New York native is set to become the most sought member of the NHL free agent should he hit the open market on July 1st.
Tuch turns 30 on May 10th and while his next contract will likely be the last big pay day of his career, he is focused on the here and now and the task at hand.
The task at hand is helping the team he cheered for in his youth end a fourteen year playoff absence come April.
Decision deferred until after the season
In spite of the uncertainty surrounding Tuch’s status beyond this season, the Sabres made the decision not to move on from the fan favorite forward at the March 6th trade deadline.
Whatever the potential return in a potential deadline deal would have been, Buffalo made the right decision.
Subtracting what Tuch brings to the team in the midst of the current push for the playoffs would have been a significant blow to a galvanized roster and a rejuvenation fan base.
It’s difficult to imagine Tuch’s asking price fitting into the Sabres salary structure going forward, but next season is a conversation for another day.
If a new deal doesn’t materialize by next summer, so be it.
For now, both parties are of the right mindset, focusing on the current edition of the team which has now won eight games in a row coming out of the Olympic break and is on the brink of securing a playoff spot.
Tuch knows what this run means to the player on this team.
”It’s been five long years,” said Tuch reflecting on his time in Buffalo without reaching the postseason.
“It’s been a long time coming. I know there’s a couple guys in here that are more tenured than I am, but, we’ve been through it all. A lot of disappointment, almost made it a couple of years ago. But we just keep on battling and preserving. Now we’re in the position we are because of how hard we’ve worked. “
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