The Buffalo Sabres definitely have some untouchables on their team -- namely, star winger Tage Thompson, and defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. And there are other players it should take a mammoth deal to acquire -- namely, winger J.J. Peterka, center Josh Norris and blueliner Bowen Byram.

But after that, things get a little murkier. And a recent Athletic report floated the notion of moving a key Sabres player: winger Alex Tuch. The 29-year-old New York native is coming off a 2024-25 season in whcih he posted 34 goals and 64 points -- solid numbers for any NHLer -- while earning just $4.75-million. That's terrific value for someone in his prime. And if the Sabres did choose to move him, they'd get quite the package in return.

Now, Tuch does have a modified no-trade clause that allows him to veto a deal to five teams of his choosing, but that still leaves Sabres GM Kevyn Adams 26 other teams to move Tuch to. You can drum up a pretty tantalizing bidding war for Tuch's services, and Adams would be a fool not to at least explore the market for him.

And if Adams doesn't like what he's being offered for Tuch, he can choose to keep him around. Of course, Tuch is entering the final season of his current contract, after which time he'll be a UFA. So Buffalo will have to make a decision on him one way or another, and they'll have to make it soon. You want to trade players from a position of leverage, and the longer Adams waits to firm up Tuch's future, the more leverage the Sabres lose.

Tuch has delivered as much as anyone could've hoped for when Buffalo acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Jack Eichel blockbuster deal of 2021. But the consistent failures of the Sabres as a group dictate that serious change has to happen, and at some point, you can't keep bringing back the same core of talent when it's not working out. That's why Adams has to dangle Tuch in trades to see what he could bring in return. Buffalo isn't duty-bound to deal Tuch, but they are obliged to try and get better at virtually any cost, and that includes moving some name-brand talent.

Another factor to consider: perhaps Tuch wants a change of scenery. He'd be doing the Sabres a favor by not announcing that to the world, but if Buffalo can't fit his salary demands under its budget, you don't want an unhappy camper souring the team environment, especially in such a crucial year for the organization. This is why Adams must firm up Tuch's future sooner than later.

Will This Be The Season Sabres Star Thompson Breaks Momentous Mark On Offense? In two of the past three seasons, <a href="http://thn.com/buffalo">Buffalo Sabres</a> star right winger Tage Thompson has put up a combined 91 goals. And although he had an off-season two years ago when he posted only 29 goals, the 27-year-old bounced back in a big way this year, generating 44 goals in 75 games.

If Adams finds a package for Tuch that makes the Sabres a better-balanced squad, he needs to make that move immediately. By doing so, he'd be announcing to the hockey world that Buffalo will look significantly different next year. And that may attract free-agent players who were on the fence about signing with the Sabres. I

In any case, by the end of the summer, we should know exactly how the Sabres feel about Tuch's future. They can't go into this season with Tuch on an expiring deal. They need to either get his signature on a contract extension, or cut ties with him. Pretty straightforward, really. And if Tuch does wind up staying in Western New York, at least the Sabres will know what the market was for him.