It’s going to be an interesting Olympic break for Alex Tuch and the Buffalo Sabres
The Chris Johnston Show: There haven’t really been any extensive contract negotiations between the Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch, but there is predicted to be some soon, likely throughout the Olympic break. It might need to take a major offer for the Sabres to maneuver him.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Johnston: “You recognize, look, we hit on this somewhat bit when the trade board got here out. You recognize, I feel the, the percentages of Tuch leaving get diminished as like, the further we get into the season, the more success the sabers are having.
You recognize, what I can inform you, though, is, at this stage, , there still haven’t been, , because it’s been described to me, like extensive, , meaningful extension talks, , because the recent regime has taken effect. You recognize, there’s obviously a dialog there. I feel everyone knows that there’s a choice pending, but it surely doesn’t appear to be plenty of that’s really happened of late.
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And I feel there’s a pair reasons for it. As I discussed, there’s sort of an order of things. You recognize, to begin with, Jarmo Kekalainen becomes a GM around Latest 12 months’s time. I mean, he’s got to get his field for, sort of like, make a plan of attack. You recognize, get this, a player like (Josh) Doan signed.
You recognize. I feel , what will probably be interesting to me is that this Olympic break that’s coming up, but it surely’s pretty close on the horizon here. You recognize, there’s no trades allowed during that period. There’s a roster freeze that way.
But I do think plenty of teams and players which might be considering extensions, it’s a natural time for those talks to occur, simply because, , obviously there’s no games being played for players that aren’t on the Olympics. It’s a time where it’s not necessarily a distraction. They’ll sort of take care of that business if there’s any decisions to be made.
And so, , I feel that it’s going to get going with, with Tuch and the Sabres probably in the gorgeous near future here. But without delay, it just looks as if it’s sort of been simmering within the background. You recognize, I don’t see any reason, I mean, they’d be crazy, in my opinion without delay to trade them unless they got some, some sort of offer you only can’t refuse. But with how well the team has been going, why would you mess with the mojo.
You mentioned the playoffs, I mean, that’s a vital bar for many franchises, but I feel one which’s gone so long as Buffalo has without making the playoffs. I mean, it’s greater than just symbolic. Like I feel this organization is attempting to rebuild itself. It’s attempting to, to, , sort of restore old glory. Bring pride back to the fan base. Get people excited.
You recognize, so there is likely to be different calculation when it comes time to rubber hitting the road on the Tuch talks. But, , mainly, what I’ll inform you is, without delay looks like it’s, it’s somewhat quiet in that sphere, but I don’t think it’s going to stay that way long. I mean, at a certain point, the Sabres are going to need to either, , determine what the true price is. Will they meet it? And if not, then they’ve a choice to make.
Will we, can we keep the player and risk him leaving for nothing in the summertime? Or are you seeking to trade him?
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But , those dominoes, , haven’t began falling yet. I don’t think that there’s anything I might describe as clarity, and, , I don’t think there’s, truthfully, I haven’t heard his name on the market in trade rumors in any respect either. I don’t think that’s something that’s being pondered in a serious manner, at the very least as of January twenty first.”
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