It’s looking like Alex Tuch is heading to free agency, and who might be interested
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic: As of Wednesday, and things can all the time change, but it surely’s looking like Alex Tuch can be heading to free agency. The Sabres could also be considering Nick Schmaltz 8 x $8 million and Tuch is considering Adrian Kempe‘s 8 x $10.625 million.
David Pagnotta: The most recent on Buffalo Sabres pending UFA forward Alex Tuch. It’s looking just like the Sabres won’t go over $10 million and Tuch is probably going heading to free agency on July 1st. Who might be fascinated with the winger?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Irfaan Gaffar: “Finally, Alex Tuch, what’s the newest there?”
Pagnotta: “In the event that they were close on a deal, boys, it will have been done by now.”
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Gaffar: “That’s the thing.”
Pagnotta: “That’s the plain. Every, all of the signs right away point to him going to free agency, unless the Buffalo Sabers completely change their mindset. It appears like Tuck is ready to go to free agency, and there can be a number of suitors for him.
We all know what he’s on the lookout for. He wants that $10.6 (million), Adrian Kempe-type deal. Perhaps a little bit bit more on the open market. Buffalo hasn’t been, from all indications, willing to go over 10. They’re not there. If this was close, it’d be done. It’s not. Again, unless (Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen) pulls a 180, he’s going to free agency.”
Gaffar: “What teams possibly make probably the most sense in that $10.6 million range, DB?”
Pagnotta: “Chicago.”
Dennis Bernstein: “Chicago, yeah. Not Vegas, that’s, not coming back to Vegas. No reunion there, but Chicago makes a number of sense.”
Pagnotta: “I look, I expect Seattle to be in the combination on this one as well.”
Gaffar: “They’re gonna do something big.”
Pagnotta: “They’ve been attempting to for a very long time.”
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Bernstein: “They tried with (Artemi) Panarin. Offered him 14 million, couldn’t get him home, couldn’t get him home.”
Pagnotta: “Nope. So, yeah, Chicago, Seattle, possibly another teams enter the combination which can be a little bit closer to winning, possibly on a shorter-term deal. Who knows? Possibly Edmonton, in the event that they can move some things around. I don’t think it dish out that much money.
But Alex Tuch can have a number of suitors if he hits July one.”
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