[NHL Rumour Report] Elliotte Friedman: Re Alex Tuch: They were not anywhere near what Tuch considers his market value — around $10.5M; Adams felt if he went that far, it would prevent him from doing other things; I believe two of those items were extensions for Benson and Doan – Sportsnet (12/20)

37 comments

  1. Adams was correct. Benson and Doan are much more important to the organization’s long term success than Tuch. Losing Tuch would hurt, but the Sabres have the depth to withstand it given Kulich will return next season + the emergence of Ostlund + they have a Finnish Östlund in Helenius.

  3. I dont want anything to do with paying an aging tuch 10 million. Hes gotta go it sucks but we have a great core

  4. Adams was not the problem. Peggy is the problem.

    Chasing superstar talent away and cycling employees wherever his meddling shows most prevalent is what has kept this team in the doghouse for the past decade and a half.

    Kevyn’s moves, on a team who hadn’t shot itself in the nuts by the time he was hired, are not the kind of moves you fire a GM over.

    I’m excited for Jarmo. I loved what he built in CBJ before they had their own superstar exodus so I’m optimistic he can get us over the hump before whatever superstars we have left decide palm trees aren’t so bad after all.

  5. We wouldn’t even have this conversation if KA hadn’t overpaid UPL, Power, Quinn and Greenway. This is a problem he created.

  7. These are the sort of cap logjams than any normal and serious gm solves pretty easily. Dahlin is the only double digit aav contract now, so it’s not like we are overspent at the top and have to cut all the depth. Losing Tuch won’t be a death blow, but with basic competence you shouldn’t be overthinking the money.

    Move Byram, waive greenway or see if a rebuilding team gives you a late pick. See what you can get for Quinn. You can pay Tuch with that money and even if you only get back draft picks, it won’t hurt the team.

    We have an absolutely loaded top 4 on D making like $25m, our top three centers are appropriately slotted and they make $20m combined. Cap is gonna be like $110m in a couple years and the spine of the forwards/top 4 will make 40% of that.

    Move Tuch if you can get a good return or if you truly expect you can replace his play with a younger guy. Absolutely no reason this should be a cap issue. It’s hard for me to really overstate how good a position the Sabres appear to be in. Adams was cooked.

  8. Bye, bye Alex. One of those dudes seems to be on track to passing you as a player in 3 years tops, the other has over his last 10. You’re just some guy who won’t be worth 10.5 in 5 years time, maybe sooner.

    Now, if GMJK can jettison some of Quinn, UPL and Greenway? I welcome you with open arms… at 10M.

  10. Power, Greenway and the Skinner buyout hurts next year for sure. I wonder if they float the idea of a Greenway buyout, it would be 1.33M against the cap for 2 seasons. Frees up 2.7M at least.

  11. Unpopular opinion apparently, but pay the man.

    Closer to 10 than 11 would be ideal. But one of the team’s big problems has been lack of veteran leadership. They can’t keep expecting 19-22 year olds to fill the kind of leadership void Tuch would leave.

  13. Adam’s wasn’t wrong.

    Tuch at 10.5 x 3 is fine and then let him chase another big contract Benson & Doan have more upside right now and moving forward.

    Personally I’d keep Tuch until the bitter end ,as long as the playoffs are within striking distance. If they are out of it then trade away.

    You can make a push to find a slightly lesser version in the 4-7m range for next year.

  14. I am not interested in tuch at that price long term. And he’s not the age where he’s going to want to take short term.

    I much rather focus on getting benson locked up.

  15. I mean, I think Tuch is right about what he’s worth, especially looking at the Kempe contract extension. Doan and Benson are more important to Buffalo’s future, for sure, but I see no reason all three can’t be signed if we trim some far from the roster. Greenway can go. One of Byram or Power can go. Quinn (as much as I still believe in his talent and think he may breakthrough eventually) is probably expendable. And we’re still carrying 3 goalies.

  17. There a whole bunch of levers to pull to make things work. Trading UPL (4.75M), greenway (4M) or Quinn (3.4) would get the numbers to work. Also Zucker is 33 and would save 4.75. The place to get cheaper is probably on the blue line where Sabres are one of the highest is defense spending with either moving Byram or power.

  18. I think absolutely Tuch will get 10.5 in Free agency. There just aren’t any good F/A coming up and someone will pay him.

    But there is no way the sabres should sign him for that. Trade him and then use those assets to overpay for another player.

  19. Skinner buyout was necessary to make space for Kulich.
    Skinner was defensive liability.
    The worst contract is Greenway’s right now.
    That guy is worth 1.2 mil max.

  20. Adam’s was right, for once. Tuch is a good player, but he’s not a $10.5m player, and you shouldn’t drastically overpay just to retain him.

  22. Im sorry but im not giving up Benny AND Doan…they are the two hardest working forwards…and benny is what, 21 now? Doan is 23…these guys are the future…i love Tuch but i dont want to sign him to a contract that will age badly to risk either one of those two guys…get as close to value for Tuch as you can and move on

  23. Alex, 13 million a year, for 1 year. And we’ll promise you a front office job when you retire.

    Jarmo, I’m your assistant to the assistant, advisor’s assistant, GM

    And I work pro bono.

  24. Jarmo , here’s another idea.

    UPL and a first rounder, for Tuch’s replacement

    We gotta make the playoffs this year.

  25. I think all the teams splurging for 10×8 type deals for good not great players will be regretting it in a few years.

  27. Tuch should be signed for 8.9 and let him use the pegula jet and yacht when he wants.
    win-win-win

  28. Tuch’s being greedy at this point. Trade him back out west. I don’t care he’s from Syracuse. They’re is no home town discount

  29. Im intrigued to see this play out. Jarmo has shown he has the stones to walk core guys who didn’t even want to be in Columbus. I’m curious how it works with someone who has ties and a connection to the city. Either way, I don’t see Jarmo blinking

  31. Tuch is exactly the kind of player you don’t sign to that contract.

    He is exactly the kind of player you deadline trade for outsized assets as he will help that team now (and will probably be the best forward available at the deadline).

    It sucks to watch him go but if you pay him 10.5×8, you will regret it even faster than Skinner.

  32. There is absolutely no need to sign Tuch. Trade him at the draft. He’s about to be on the wrong side of 30 next year and he will be on the verge of retirement in the next 4-5 years. He has maybe 1-2 years left of peak performance and after that he’s the type of player that will just fall off a cliff, like Jeff Skinner did.

    Lastly, why would I guy that knows he only has a few years left before he needs to start thinking about retiring want to sign a deal with the Sabres who are no where near winning a cup. Even if the Sabres offered him what he is asking, he wouldn’t sign here. He wants a chance to win a cup before he retires.

    Get what you can out of him this year, make a playoff run with him, trade him at the draft in the offseason to a cup contender that could use him

  34. If Tuch fulfills a need for the Sabres for the next five seasons, then he will be worth retaining. How do you begin with a five-year, $50 million ($10 million AAV) proposal?

  36. I’d give Tuch that for 3 years, then it’s going to drop down to 7.5/8 for 2 years, then after that it will drop down to 4.5 for 2 years.

  37. If he wants 10.5 plus, sorry Tuchy best I can do is 3-4 years. You want to take a haircut and get to like, 9-9.5? We can talk about a 5th, maybe 6th year. For 7-8 years we’re gonna need more back. Somewhere in 8s.

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