Sabres Face Tough Decision on Keeping or Trading Alex Tuch

Buffalo's surprising playoff push complicates the future of the veteran forward

Jan. 31, 2026 at 12:55pm

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The Buffalo Sabres are facing a difficult decision on whether to trade or keep veteran forward Alex Tuch ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Tuch is on an expiring contract, but his strong play has helped the Sabres surge into playoff contention, something the team hasn't experienced in 15 years. The Sabres must weigh the short-term benefits of keeping Tuch versus potentially trading him for longer-term assets.

Why it matters

The Sabres' unexpected success this season has put them in an unfamiliar position of being a playoff contender. Keeping Tuch could give them their best chance at ending the league's longest playoff drought, but trading him could net valuable future assets. The decision reflects how the Sabres view their current team and long-term outlook.

The details

Alex Tuch was initially seen as a logical trade candidate for the Sabres given his expiring contract. However, Tuch's strong play has helped propel Buffalo into playoff position, something the team hasn't achieved in 15 years. Tuch has said the Sabres are now focused on not just making the playoffs, but competing for the Stanley Cup. This complicates the team's decision on whether to trade Tuch for future assets or keep him to maximize their playoff chances this season.

  • The NHL trade deadline is approaching in the coming weeks.

The players

Alex Tuch

A veteran forward for the Buffalo Sabres who is playing on an expiring contract.

Buffalo Sabres

An NHL team that is unexpectedly in playoff contention this season after years of missing the playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“This is the Sabres' best chance to make the playoffs in 15 years, and while they shouldn't throw caution to the wind just to secure this one playoff spot, hanging onto Tuch would give them their best opportunity to get there.”

— Scott Maxwell, Daily Faceoff Writer (Daily Faceoff)

“Buffalo is a very strong team this year and I think they have a real chance to make noise in the playoffs, but I don't think it'd handcuff them all that much to move Tuch for a longer-term piece.”

— Mike Gould, Daily Faceoff Writer (Daily Faceoff)

What’s next

The Sabres will need to decide whether to trade or keep Alex Tuch ahead of the NHL trade deadline in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The Sabres' surprising success this season has put them in a difficult position of weighing short-term playoff hopes against potential long-term benefits of trading veteran forward Alex Tuch. Their decision will reveal how the team views its current window and future outlook.