Alex Tuch contract talks

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

10m AAV?  😱 The question isn’t how much the cap goes up, instead, what is Pegula’s internal cap going to be if the cap limit does explode?

I don’t care short term or long term, I would be very leary about giving Tuch that kind of money.  

Just like Sasquatch, everyone believes it exists.

[Taro T]

2 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

They have disabled deferments as of the new CBA but when did they state the cap hit will reflect the true AAV with deferments? 

They've ALWAYS had the deferments reflect the particular year the money is earned's NPV during the Salary Cap era.

Which is why when a player actually made use of that benefit this past year it was silly that people were going nuts about there being cap circumvention.  There was no such thing happening.

[MDFan]

It just seems to me that in many ways the Tuch negotiations are a crucial test of the seriousness of this organization.  I know many would argue that question is already answered and I would not dispute that sentiment, but to the extent hope remains then this negotiation is critical.
 

I do not see any way the Sabres can let Tuch walk and have any prayer of fielding a competitive team with this current regime or player set.  Quite simply, he embodies what they have been preaching they want in their players, in every respect.  I care little about league comparison of value based on advanced stats or any other measure when discussing Tuch.  He is critical to THIS team.  Signing him provides a window for this team to right this particular ship and move forward.  Failure to sign him is admission of failure, and whether they would admit it or not, a restart on the rebuild yet again.  

[DarthEbriate]

On 9/25/2025 at 3:53 PM, PromoTheRobot said:

Just like Sasquatch, everyone believes it exists.

The owner of the team announced EEE, and proceeded to have the following in cap space by season $8.8M, $15.5M, $17.2M, $10.6M, and $8.5M and are going into the season with $5.19 after a massive cap bump and trading an extendable player (JJP) for two economic and cost-controlled assets. The owner has not made a public statement since. The ownership believes it exists until they prove otherwise.

[bob_sauve28]

22 minutes ago, MDFan said:

It just seems to me that in many ways the Tuch negotiations are a crucial test of the seriousness of this organization.  I know many would argue that question is already answered and I would not dispute that sentiment, but to the extent hope remains then this negotiation is critical.
 

I do not see any way the Sabres can let Tuch walk and have any prayer of fielding a competitive team with this current regime or player set.  Quite simply, he embodies what they have been preaching they want in their players, in every respect.  I care little about league comparison of value based on advanced stats or any other measure when discussing Tuch.  He is critical to THIS team.  Signing him provides a window for this team to right this particular ship and move forward.  Failure to sign him is admission of failure, and whether they would admit it or not, a restart on the rebuild yet again.  

Tuch probably knows this and is using it for leverage 

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

The owner of the team announced EEE, and proceeded to have the following in cap space by season $8.8M, $15.5M, $17.2M, $10.6M, and $8.5M and are going into the season with $5.19 after a massive cap bump and trading an extendable player (JJP) for two economic and cost-controlled assets. The owner has not made a public statement since. The ownership believes it exists until they prove otherwise.

And every offseason his GM went after big-dollar free agents, though he failed to sign them. Why even bother if this internal cap exists?

[Mango]

3 hours ago, MDFan said:

It just seems to me that in many ways the Tuch negotiations are a crucial test of the seriousness of this organization.  I know many would argue that question is already answered and I would not dispute that sentiment, but to the extent hope remains then this negotiation is critical.
 

I do not see any way the Sabres can let Tuch walk and have any prayer of fielding a competitive team with this current regime or player set.  Quite simply, he embodies what they have been preaching they want in their players, in every respect.  I care little about league comparison of value based on advanced stats or any other measure when discussing Tuch.  He is critical to THIS team.  Signing him provides a window for this team to right this particular ship and move forward.  Failure to sign him is admission of failure, and whether they would admit it or not, a restart on the rebuild yet again.  

If Tuch walks or is traded at the deadline and I'm fairly confident that Thompson requests a trade with Dahlin following suit within a season, maybe 2 tops.

Tuch walks and we are right back to square one.

[7+6=13]

1 hour ago, Mango said:

If Tuch walks or is traded at the deadline and I'm fairly confident that Thompson requests a trade with Dahlin following suit within a season, maybe 2 tops.

Tuch walks and we are right back to square one.

What if Tuch signs for 8 years/88 mil and then Tage asks for a trade mid season, then Benson's agent leaks that he won't sign an extension under any circumstances?

[nucci]

10 hours ago, MDFan said:

It just seems to me that in many ways the Tuch negotiations are a crucial test of the seriousness of this organization.  I know many would argue that question is already answered and I would not dispute that sentiment, but to the extent hope remains then this negotiation is critical.
 

I do not see any way the Sabres can let Tuch walk and have any prayer of fielding a competitive team with this current regime or player set.  Quite simply, he embodies what they have been preaching they want in their players, in every respect.  I care little about league comparison of value based on advanced stats or any other measure when discussing Tuch.  He is critical to THIS team.  Signing him provides a window for this team to right this particular ship and move forward.  Failure to sign him is admission of failure, and whether they would admit it or not, a restart on the rebuild yet again.  

What if he chooses not to sign?

[Mango]

8 hours ago, 7+6=13 said:

What if Tuch signs for 8 years/88 mil and then Tage asks for a trade mid season, then Benson's agent leaks that he won't sign an extension under any circumstances?

I'm not saying Tuch is the best player on the roster. I'm saying he's the linchpin to keeping any of the good we have in Buffalo.

Per some of the podcasts over the off-season it seems like Tage is already close to asking out. I think losing Tuch would put him over that hump in fairly short order.

Have there been any rumors about Benson? 

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, Mango said:

I'm not saying Tuch is the best player on the roster. I'm saying he's the linchpin to keeping any of the good we have in Buffalo.

Per some of the podcasts over the off-season it seems like Tage is already close to asking out. I think losing Tuch would put him over that hump in fairly short order.

Have there been any rumors about Benson? 

I don't think Benson cares much where he plays. He trains in Vancouver on the offseason. 

[DarthEbriate]

11 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

And every offseason his GM went after big-dollar free agents, though he failed to sign them. Why even bother if this internal cap exists?

Keyword there being failed. But in reality, did the GM really go after any big-dollar free agents, or did the GM say that they went after them. Because those are two very different things.

The more important point is that the team needed a veteran #1 goalie, a position easily filled throughout the past 6 seasons for just $5M. And they also needed an in-their-prime defensive top-4 defenseman who would push Samuelsson down the lineup and push Bryson out entirely. Even better if he were right-handed to pair with Power, but he could've been a lefty 5 seasons ago. That player type runs $4-5.5M as well. And they needed someone to replace Quinn while he was out and then while he was returned-but-still-recovering from serious injury. Adams didn't do anything of things and had plenty of cash to do so.

[7+6=13]

4 hours ago, Mango said:

I'm not saying Tuch is the best player on the roster. I'm saying he's the linchpin to keeping any of the good we have in Buffalo.

Per some of the podcasts over the off-season it seems like Tage is already close to asking out. I think losing Tuch would put him over that hump in fairly short order.

Have there been any rumors about Benson? 

If Tage is already close to asking out, then Tuch isn't the linchpin.  I'm not trying to say I don't understand what you're saying. However if we sign Tuch and still lose Tage as you suggest as being already half way there.  To me that would mean that's an entirely different discussion than lumping Tuch into that.

A lot would have to happen and be true for what you suggested.  I used Benson as a parallel argument.  If this, then ... can be speculated.

[7+6=13]

4 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't think Benson cares much where he plays. He trains in Vancouver on the offseason. 

Not caring where you play is a learned thought process, as hockey prospects begin an early non traditional life.  

He'd train in Vancouver if he played for any other organization.  I'd have to research but I'm guessing players don't train in the city they play at least partially until other things manifest.  I.E. married with kids living in the city they play / longer term contract.

[MDFan]

8 hours ago, nucci said:

What if he chooses not to sign?

It would seem to be the same result wouldn’t you think? 

[Mr Peabody]

As much as I like Tuch the Sabres have convinced me they can lose with or without him.  I’d prefer to let the next GM figure a way out of this mess. 

[PerreaultForever]

If I'm Tuch's agent I hold to a ridiculous ask and see how the season plays out. Tuch can keep saying "I love Buffalo" "I want to be in Buffalo" and "I'm not thinking about it. My agent will work all that out." If the season tanks he can walk into that big free agency class, save face, and have all his options available. 

If I'm the Sabres, I wait to see how the season goes and if I can't get a reasonable deal done I just play out the season. If it is not looking like playoffs I move him for a haul at the deadline and begin the new new re-rebuild.

If the Sabres give him a huge overpay they are screwed no matter what happens. They are in a tough spot and a full rebuild might be the only way (potentially) out of it. Nobody wants to hear that but if your only option is to continually overpay or look like a league farm team constantly having players walk you'll never get anywhere. 

[PromoTheRobot]

5 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

If I'm Tuch's agent I hold to a ridiculous ask and see how the season plays out. Tuch can keep saying "I love Buffalo" "I want to be in Buffalo" and "I'm not thinking about it. My agent will work all that out." If the season tanks he can walk into that big free agency class, save face, and have all his options available. 

If I'm the Sabres, I wait to see how the season goes and if I can't get a reasonable deal done I just play out the season. If it is not looking like playoffs I move him for a haul at the deadline and begin the new new re-rebuild.

If the Sabres give him a huge overpay they are screwed no matter what happens. They are in a tough spot and a full rebuild might be the only way (potentially) out of it. Nobody wants to hear that but if your only option is to continually overpay or look like a league farm team constantly having players walk you'll never get anywhere. 

I don't think $10MM/yr is an overpay at all. And frankly the Sabres have to pay Tuch even if it means overpaying for some over-30 years. I just feel kind of bad for Tage who's being grossly underpaid for his production right now. But that's the deal he signed.

1 hour ago, Mr Peabody said:

As much as I like Tuch the Sabres have convinced me they can lose with or without him.  I’d prefer to let the next GM figure a way out of this mess. 

Well, if you want the Sabres to keep losing, sure.

[thewookie1]

26 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

If I'm Tuch's agent I hold to a ridiculous ask and see how the season plays out. Tuch can keep saying "I love Buffalo" "I want to be in Buffalo" and "I'm not thinking about it. My agent will work all that out." If the season tanks he can walk into that big free agency class, save face, and have all his options available. 

If I'm the Sabres, I wait to see how the season goes and if I can't get a reasonable deal done I just play out the season. If it is not looking like playoffs I move him for a haul at the deadline and begin the new new re-rebuild.

If the Sabres give him a huge overpay they are screwed no matter what happens. They are in a tough spot and a full rebuild might be the only way (potentially) out of it. Nobody wants to hear that but if your only option is to continually overpay or look like a league farm team constantly having players walk you'll never get anywhere. 

I dont we can afford to trade him; we can't risk losing Tage and Dahlin

[kas23]

24 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I don't think $10MM/yr is an overpay at all. And frankly the Sabres have to pay Tuch even if it means overpaying for some over-30 years. I just feel kind of bad for Tage who's being grossly underpaid for his production right now. But that's the deal he signed.

Well, if you want the Sabres to keep losing, sure.

It’s a gripe be can bring to the NFLPA. They are the ones that pushed for guaranteed contracts. The reason he can’t rip up that contact is because it is 100% guaranteed. Players can’t have it both ways. If this was the NFL, that contract would’ve been reworked already. 

[Taro T]

3 minutes ago, kas23 said:

It’s a gripe be can bring to the NFLPA. They are the ones that pushed for guaranteed contracts. The reason he can’t rip up that contact is because it is 100% guaranteed. Players can’t have it both ways. If this was the NFL, that contract would’ve been reworked already. 

It's 2/3's guaranteed.  Should the Sabres decide to buy him out, he gets 2/3's the remaining money over twice the remaining years left on the deal when they buy him out.

[Taro T]

And for very young guys, contracts are 1/3 guaranteed.  For old guys with some special circumstances (primarily when the contract is signed) they are 100% guaranteed.