The Buffalo Sabres have surprised many during the 2025-26 NHL season, compiling a strong 32-19-6 record before the league paused for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Forward Alex Tuch, a critical contributor with 22 goals and 48 points over 56 games, is approaching free agency on July 1 if no new agreement is reached. Currently in the final year of a seven-year, $33.25 million deal, Tuch’s future with the Sabres remains uncertain as contract negotiations continue without resolution.
Communication between Tuch’s representatives and General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen is ongoing, but, according to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta on Daily Faceoff’s DFO Live, the parties have
“still haven’t inched closer to a contract extension.”
As the March 6 trade deadline approaches, Kekalainen might opt to keep Tuch for the remainder of the playoff push, even if a new contract cannot be agreed upon.
Pagnotta highlights that
“with the Sabres in the thick of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, Kekalainen may decide to hold on to Tuch and essentially use him as the team’s own rental if they cannot come to terms on a new contract by the March 6 trade deadline.”
This strategy reflects the organization’s desire to break their lengthy postseason drought, which currently extends back to the 2010-11 season.
Buffalo Contemplating Roster Moves Ahead of Trade Deadline
Given the Sabres’ recent surge—winning 20 of 27 games—to secure a playoff spot in the competitive Eastern Conference, trading Tuch before the deadline appears unlikely. Even so, it seems the forward will not receive a new contract prior to the team’s post-Olympic return on February 25. Tuch holds a five-team no-trade clause, providing some control over any potential move.
Should he reach unrestricted free agency this summer, Tuch would stand out as a prominent free agent target. Pagnotta remarks,
“the way things are going, it is entirely possible that becomes reality,”
underscoring the real possibility Tuch could depart Buffalo in free agency. He also notes,
“nothing is stopping the Sabres and Tuch from ironing out an extension before the trade deadline, but the closer the two sides go without a new deal, the more other teams will try to pry him away.”
For a franchise searching for its first playoff appearance in 15 years—the longest drought across North American professional sports—retaining key players like Tuch is vital to maintain momentum. Maintaining a playoff berth through the season’s final two months will be essential to capitalize on the team’s current form.
Sabres’ Playoff Hopes and Next Steps
This season’s success marks the strongest performance for Buffalo in recent memory, generating hope among the fanbase in Western New York. With their playoff position at stake, the Sabres’ management faces pressure to enhance the roster ahead of the March 6 deadline to sustain their postseason aspirations.
Tuch and the Sabres resume action against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, beginning a three-game road trip that will test their ability to hold onto playoff positioning. The outcome of these upcoming games, coupled with ongoing contract discussions, will shape both their short-term competitiveness and the team’s longer-term roster decisions.
