Alex Tuch's Buffalo Exit Gets Messy as Sabres GM Pushes Back on His Claims

Alex Tuch says he never wanted to leave Buffalo. The Sabres’ general manager, however, seems to remember things quite differently.

What looked like a sudden departure on June 24 may have been a decision that was coming for quite some time, depending on which side of the story you believe.

Tuch, who was approaching unrestricted free agency, landed with the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade agreement that included an eight-year, $84 million contract. The deal gave Washington a major addition up front, but the circumstances surrounding his exit from Buffalo have now become a talking point.

Speaking with Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic, Tuch made it clear that staying in Buffalo was always his preference. He said he genuinely believed he would spend the rest of his career with the Sabres until the final stages of the process.

He also insisted that he never requested a trade or pushed to leave the organization.

“I always wanted to finish my career in Buffalo, but that just wasn’t in the cards,” Tuch explained.

Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen offered a noticeably different perspective when speaking with Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.

According to Kekalainen, Buffalo had been aware of Tuch’s intentions well before the trade became official. He claimed the forward had stopped negotiating with the Sabres roughly a month before free agency, leaving little hope of finding common ground.

“He decided he didn’t want to negotiate with us anymore and he was gone a month before free agency,” Kekalainen said.

The Capitals certainly aren’t complaining about how things have worked out. The 30-year-old winger has hit the ground running in Washington, recording 10 goals and two assists for 12 points through his first 14 games. His scoring touch, physical presence and ability to contribute in all three zones have made him an immediate difference-maker.

Buffalo, meanwhile, has felt his absence in a pretty significant way.

Aside from his offensive prowess, Tuch was also known for his defensive skills, which were a little more under the radar. With the loss of Bowen Byram this offseason as well, Buffalo is feeling the heat.

The Sabres have surrendered 51 goals this season, the third-most in the Atlantic Division. They currently sit at 7-5-3 in the standings, just ahead of the Detroit Red Wings.

Replacing the kind of production that Tuch provided was never going to be easy.

Tuch will get his first opportunity to return to Buffalo on March 18. Given how this breakup has unfolded publicly, Capitals fans should expect an interesting atmosphere when he steps back onto the ice in his former home.