It’s going to be an interesting Olympic break for Alex Tuch and the Buffalo Sabres
The Chris Johnston Show: There haven’t really been any extensive contract negotiations between the Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch, but there is expected to be some soon, likely during the Olympic break. It would have to take a significant offer for the Sabres to move him.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Johnston: “You know, look, we hit on this a little bit when the trade board came out. You know, I think the, the odds of Tuch leaving get diminished as like, the further we get into the season, the more success the sabers are having.
You know, what I can tell you, though, is, at this stage, you know, there still haven’t been, you know, as it’s been described to me, like extensive, you know, meaningful extension talks, you know, since the new regime has taken effect. You know, there’s obviously a dialog there. I think everyone knows that there’s a decision pending, but it doesn’t seem like a lot of that’s really happened of late.
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And I think there’s a couple reasons for it. As I mentioned, there’s kind of an order of things. You know, first of all, Jarmo Kekalainen becomes a GM around New Year’s time. I mean, he’s got to get his field for, kind of like, make a plan of attack. You know, get this, a player like (Josh) Doan signed.
You know. I think you know, what will be interesting to me is this Olympic break that’s coming up, but it’s pretty close on the horizon here. You know, there’s no trades allowed during that period. There’s a roster freeze that way.
But I do think a lot of teams and players that are considering extensions, it’s a natural time for those talks to happen, just because, you know, obviously there’s no games being played for players that aren’t at the Olympics. It is a time where it’s not necessarily a distraction. They can kind of deal with that business if there’s any decisions to be made.
And so, you know, I think that it’s going to get going with, with Tuch and the Sabres probably in the pretty near future here. But right now, it just seems like it’s kind of been simmering in the background. You know, I don’t see any reason, I mean, they’d be crazy, in my view right now to trade them unless they got some, some kind of offer you just can’t refuse. But with how well the team has been going, why would you mess with the mojo.
You mentioned the playoffs, I mean, that’s an important bar for most franchises, but I think one that’s gone as long as Buffalo has without making the playoffs. I mean, it’s more than just symbolic. Like I think this organization is trying to rebuild itself. It’s trying to, to, you know, kind of restore old glory. Bring pride back to the fan base. Get people excited.
You know, so there might be different calculation when it comes time to rubber hitting the road on the Tuch talks. But, you know, basically, what I’ll tell you is, right now feels like it’s, it’s a little quiet in that sphere, but I don’t think it’s going to remain that way long. I mean, at a certain point, the Sabres are going to have to either, you know, figure out what the real price is. Will they meet it? And if not, then they have a decision to make.
Do we, do we keep the player and risk him leaving for nothing in the summer? Or are you looking to trade him?
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But you know, those dominoes, you know, haven’t started falling yet. I don’t think that there’s anything I would describe as clarity, and, you know, I don’t think there’s, honestly, I haven’t heard his name out there in trade rumors at all either. I don’t think that’s something that’s being pondered in a serious manner, at least as of January 21st.”
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