Buffalo Sabres' new GM Jarmo Kekalainen targets Alex Tuch as next priority for contract extension

The Buffalo Sabres were shaken up on Monday when Kevyn Adams was fired in favor of former Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen. It was a bold move for an organization desperately searching for answers after years of missing the playoffs, and Kekalainen is already making it clear what his priority will be.

According to Pierre LeBrun on the latest episode of TSN Insider Trading, the new Sabres GM wants to restart contract extension talks with forward Alex Tuch, discussions that had gone cold under Adams.

Alex Tuch remains one of the most important names for Buffalo Sabres

Since joining the Sabres in 2021, the star has been an integral part of the Buffalo lineup, with the forward bringing some major fire on the puck. With a blend of speed, size, and offensive production, he has been invaluable.

"Kekalainen absolutely wants to get those talks going back on track with Tuch," LeBrun reported. He then revealed the sticking point that caused negotiations to break down in the first place.

He continued, "My understanding is that the Sabres weren't willing to go to double digits on the AAV, which is why those talks had fizzled. We'll see if Kekalainen can get this guy signed."

Losing him to free agency would be a devastating blow to a team already struggling to find consistency. The problem for Buffalo is that Tuch is one of the top pending unrestricted free agents left on the market.

If the Sabres want to keep him, they're going to need to send a very big offer, especially after watching comparable players sign massive deals. The most notable comparison is Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings.

Kempe landed an eight-year, $85 million contract extension with the Pacific Division club back in November. That's a $10.625 million average annual value, exactly the kind of number the Sabres were reportedly unwilling to reach under Adams.

If Kempe is the benchmark, Kekalainen is going to have a tough decision to make. Does he break the double-digit threshold that Adams refused to cross, or does he risk losing Tuch to free agency?

Tuch has posted 11 goals, 17 assists, and 28 points in 31 games this season. Although those aren't very impressive figures, they represent a strong output from a player who does much more than just score points.

He is a muscular presence, a leader in the locker room, and someone the Sabres can rely on when things get tough. What transpires between Tuch and the Sabres from this point on will be interesting to watch. It's evident that Kekalainen wants to close this deal, but it's unclear if Buffalo will agree to Tuch's asking price.

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