The NHL trade market is starting to warm up as contenders weigh short-term needs against long-term cost. Teams near the top of the standings are already scanning the league for help that could matter in April and May.

That search has pushed one Buffalo forward into the middle of league-wide discussion, with two Cup-minded teams now linked to his name.

Oilers and Panthers Are Linked to Sabres Forward Alex Tuch in Trade Rumors

Alex Tuch is getting discussed in recent trade chatter, with both the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers connected to the Buffalo Sabres winger. Tuch, who is the alternate captain of Buffalo, is playing under a seven-year, $33.25 million contract. He is in the last year of his current contract, and after its end, he will become an unrestricted free agent.

Speculation surrounding Tuch intensified in December, with a report from Bill Scott of NHL Trade Rumors raising questions about his long-term future with the Sabres. Scott wrote,

“Reports indicate Tuch is seeking a contract exceeding the $10.625 million AAV that Adrian Kempe secured with Los Angeles. If Tuch is truly digging his heels in for an 8-figure deal, he is effectively pricing himself out of Buffalo-and frankly, he might be overestimating his market value.” That uncertainty has amplified trade conversations around the league.

Edmonton’s interest appears rooted in fit and urgency. The Oilers sit near the top of the Pacific Division at 19-13-6, driven by elite offensive production. Connor McDavid leads the league with 67 points and controls games with speed, while Leon Draisaitl continues to deliver timely offense. Edmonton averages more than three goals per game and owns the league’s top power play, even as defensive lapses remain an ongoing concern.

From a lineup standpoint, Tuch offers something Edmonton lacks. NHL insider Allan Mitchell wrote in The Athletic, “Tuch is a big power winger with speed who can thrive with elite skill. The Oilers could use him on the top line with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, allowing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to center the third line. Tuch’s size is ideal for the rigors of playoff hockey, and Edmonton doesn’t have that kind of presence on the roster currently. A perfect plug-and-play for the Oilers.”

Florida, the defending champions, has also emerged as a possible landing spot, shaped by a different set of needs. The Panthers sit fourth in the Atlantic Division at 20-14-2 after an inconsistent start. Brad Marchand leads the team in goals and points, with two important forwards, Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, injured.

James Mirtle, also writing for The Athletic, tied Tuch’s style directly to Florida’s identity. “Big, fast, physical, and loves the hard areas of the ice: sounds like a Florida Panther,” Mirtle wrote.

He added, “His reasonable cap hit would fit nicely into the Aleksander Barkov LTIR space, and he can help improve a power play that’s been struggling at times. Only question is, do they have the future assets to pull it off?”

READ MORE: NHL Rumors: Insider Shares Insight Into Alex Tuch’s Contract Extension Talk

On the ice, Tuch continues to justify the attention. The 29-year-old former first-round pick has 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points in 35 games this season. He carries a plus-six rating, logs close to 19 minutes per night, and has produced 20 points in Sabres wins while providing reliable two-way play along the boards.