Capitals acquire Alex Tuch in sign-and-trade with Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres have completed a sign-and-trade agreement to send veteran forward Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals. This transaction, announced on Wednesday, involved the Sabres first signing Tuch to an eight-year contract. According to reports, this deal is valued at $84 million, with an average annual value (AAV) of $10.5 million.
This move marks the second significant addition for Washington in recent days, following their acquisition of winger Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues. The Capitals obtained Kyrou in exchange for the No. 16 pick in the draft, prospect Milton Gastrin, and forward Connor McMichael. For Buffalo, Tuch’s departure is their second roster subtraction, having previously traded defenceman Bo Byram to Chicago.
Details of the Tuch Deal
The sign-and-trade mechanism was crucial for the Sabres to secure any return for the 30-year-old Tuch. He was anticipated to be a top unrestricted free agent if he had reached the market on July 1. Buffalo General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen indicated that contract negotiations with Tuch had not progressed. The sign-and-trade allowed Tuch to secure an eight-year deal, whereas he would have been limited to a maximum of seven years had he entered free agency.
Tuch is coming off a season where he recorded 33 goals and 33 assists. In 79 games with the Sabres this past season, he also accumulated 66 points, 82 hits, and 90 blocks. The Sabres received a 2027 third-round pick and forward David Kämpf, a pending unrestricted free agent, from the Capitals as part of the trade.
Kekalainen noted that Tuch had expressed no interest in remaining with the Sabres once his current contract expired next summer. Similarly, there was no movement in contract talks with Byram, who was also unwilling to negotiate a new deal. The Sabres general manager stated that the team had made it clear to Tuch their desire to sign him, acknowledging his importance and leadership. However, he added that players sometimes choose differently when they have the power to do so.
League-wide Activity
This transaction is part of a broader period of activity across the league. Other notable moves on Wednesday included a trade between Nashville and Colorado. The Predators acquired Jack Drury, prospect Chase Bradley, and a 2029 third-round pick, while sending forwards Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov to Colorado. This marks the second trade between the two teams since Chris MacFarland transitioned from his role as Avalanche general manager to oversee the Predators’ hockey operations in early June.
MacFarland commented on the acquisition of Drury, describing him as a hard-working, reliable centre capable of handling tough assignments and excelling in the faceoff circle. He expressed enthusiasm for Drury’s addition, which he believes will enhance the team’s depth in the middle of the ice.
More transactions are anticipated leading up to the first round of the draft on Friday and with free agency approaching next week. St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong described the current pace of activity as rapidly increasing. San Jose Sharks General Manager Mike Grier also observed significant movement around the league, attributing it partly to the salary cap increasing to $104 million. Grier noted that teams have money to spend, which has contributed to numerous trades, especially since this year’s free agent class might not excite many. He added that while good players are available, their prices are high.
Tuch had been seeking a contract similar to the eight-year deal signed by Adrian Kempe with the Los Angeles Kings, which carried a cap hit of approximately $10 million. The Sabres had been hesitant to commit to a double-digit average annual value for Tuch, citing the risk associated with a 30-year-old player on a maximum eight-year term. Kekalainen explained that the team’s tight cap situation this summer, due to the Skinner buyout, required careful consideration of how such a contract would impact the roster.
Tuch, who grew up in Baldwinsville, N.Y., joined the Sabres as part of the Jack Eichel trade in 2021. During his tenure with the team, he accumulated 309 points in 360 games, including three 30-goal seasons and a 79-point season in 2022-23. He was also a key penalty killer and received votes for the Selke Trophy due to his two-way play. Kämpf, the player acquired by the Sabres in the trade, appeared in just two games with the Capitals last season and played 38 games for the Vancouver Canucks in 2025-26, recording two goals and four assists.
Source: sportsnet.ca
