Although there’s still time for the Buffalo Sabres and star forward Alex Tuch to seek out common ground on a brand new contract, multiple reports have stated that the veteran shall be testing the free agent market on July 1.
If that does come to pass, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen shall be losing a key piece of the roster — but he’ll even have some cap flexibility to pursue a substitute for the three-time 30-goal scorer.
Enter Patrick Kane, who was born in Buffalo and in addition currently doesn’t have a brand new contract. While there is a possibility he re-signs with the Detroit Red Wings, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta wonders if a reunion together with his hometown team could possibly be a possibility.
“We’ve wondered what Dylan Larkin’s trade request mean for Alex DeBrincat, who’s entering the ultimate yr of his contract in Detroit. But we’ve not asked what Larkin’s request means for Patrick Kane, who will grow to be a UFA July 1 and needs to maintain playing,” the hockey insider reported on Thursday.
“Could he be an Alex Tuch substitute in Buffalo?”
Kane has spent the last three seasons with the Red Wings, and although the 37-year-old has not yet announced his plans, he has made it clear that he intends to proceed playing.
Despite being within the latter stages of his profession, the long run Hall of Famer remained productive in 2025-26, recording 16 goals and 57 points in 67 games for the Wings. His offensive creativity and power-play ability proceed to make him a gorgeous option for teams searching for veteran scoring.
After all, the hometown connection may be enticing to the three-time Stanley Cup champion, who was linked to the Sabres a few years ago before eventually landing in Detroit.
At this point, there isn’t any indication that Buffalo is actively pursuing Kane. Nevertheless, if the chasm between Tuch and the front office can’t be overcome, the veteran winger could emerge as an interesting option for a franchise seeking to take the subsequent step after returning to the playoffs this past season.
The Sabres got here inside a single victory of an Eastern Conference Final appearance, losing to the Montreal Canadiens in a heartbreaking Game 7 on home ice.
With free agency lower than two weeks away and a notoriously thin class available this summer, Kane’s next destination is one in every of the more intriguing storylines to look at across the NHL this summer.
Although there’s still time for the Buffalo Sabres and star forward Alex Tuch to seek out common ground on a brand new contract, multiple reports have stated that the veteran shall be testing the free agent market on July 1. If that does come to pass, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen shall be losing a key piece of the roster — but he’ll even have some cap flexibility to pursue a substitute for the three-time 30-goal scorer.