Who is Alex Tuch, the new Sabres forward acquired for Jack Eichel?
The Buffalo Sabres have finally traded Jack Eichel, but who is the their new forward, Alex Tuch?
After months, or really years on some level, of speculation it’s finally done. The Buffalo Sabres have traded center Jack Eichel and a 2023 third-round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights for winger Alex Tuch, prospect Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick with conditions that may shift those picks.
Pending trade call, The @BuffaloSabres trade Jack Eichel and a 2023 3rd round pick, to the @GoldenKnights for Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, a 1st in 2022 and a 3rd in 2023.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 4, 2021
Krebs was a first-round pick by the Golden Knights in 2019, and he has 13 NHL games under his belt (nine this season). So Tuch stands as the more recognizable name of the two players Buffalo is getting in the deal.
Alex Tuch Scouting Report
A native of upstate New York (born in Syracuse), Tuch was drafted 18th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild after playing collegiately at Boston College. He got his first taste of the NHL in six games with the Wild in the 2016-17 season, before being traded to Vegas in June of 2017 in a deal that prevented him from being picked in the expansion draft and the Wild getting nothing for him.
It was with the Golden Knights that Tuch blossomed. Over 78 games in 2017-18, as a 21-year old, he had 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists). The following season, he posted a career-high 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) in 74 games.
Tuch’s production dropped off in 2019-20 (17 points, -10 rating in 42 games), and last season he had 33 points (15 goals,18 assists) in 55 games. He became an important secondary scorer and physical presence for the Golden Knights.
In July Tuch had shoulder surgery that landed him on injured reserve to start this season, with a six-month recovery time. He is expected to return in January.
Alex Tuch salary
Whenever he’s ready to play, Buffalo will be getting a 25-year old forward with 66 games of playoff experience and reasonable contractual control ($4.75 million cap hit through 2025-26). As the Sabres eye the future without Eichel, Tuch is lined up for an opportunity to assert himself as a top-line forward with his new team.
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