As he moves closer to reaching unrestricted free agency on July 1, Alex Tuch was noncommittal on his future with the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.
Tuch spoke during the team’s locker room cleanout following a Game 7 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, which ended Buffalo’s first trip to the postseason since 2011.
The veteran forward said Sabres general manager Jarmo Keklainen reiterated a desire to re-sign him during his exit interview, but offered no promises of a return.
“I’m going to do whatever is best for myself and my family,” Tuch said, per 7 News WKBW. “I don’t know how the talks are going to go and I don’t know the future.”
Tuch had 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games with the Sabres this season. Among pending UFAs, only Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Darren Raddysh posted more points (70) with Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Mantha also posting 33 goals.
The 30-year-old winger endured a disappointing postseason, posting four goals and seven points in 13 games - being held without a point in seven games against the Canadiens in the second-round series.
He said Wednesday he was not dealing with a major injury in the playoffs and felt he let his teammates down with his output against Montreal.
Alex Tuch now at the podium.
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) May 20, 2026
“I thought Dobes played really well for them, especially against me.”
Tuch said he felt great about his game in Boston series but was really disappointed with his play against MTL. Said offensively he felt like he let his teammates down but was… pic.twitter.com/lGatGmqhM3
The 6-foot-4 winger is coming off a seven-year, $33.25 million contract that carried an annual cap hit of $4.75 million.
Tuch was acquired by the Sabres, along with forward Peyton Krebs and two draft picks, from the Vegas Golden Knights in the blockbuster deal that saw Jack Eichel head the other way in 2021.
Drafted 18th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2014, Tuch has 200 goals and 448 points in 615 career games split between the Wild, Golden Knights and Sabres.
Tuch will be among the biggest names on TSN’s Free Agent Frenzy board this summer should he remain unsigned and is by the Sabres’ biggest pending UFA. Forwards Beck Melnstyn and Joshua Dunne are also slated to hit the open market, along with trade-deadline additions Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley on defence. Krebs, Zach Benson, Michael Kesselring are in need of new deals as restricted free agents.
According to PuckPedia, the Sabres are currently projected to have $12.9 million in cap space this summer with 21 players already under contract for next season. The team’s space is dented by a $6.44 million cap charge from buying out Jeff Skinner in 2024.
