Maple Leafs Urged to Land Auston Matthews' Next Linemate After New Insider Report
Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
After a new report shows the Sabres might be willing to move on from Alex Tuch, the Maple Leafs need to find a way to acquire him and pair him with Auston Matthews.
As the Maple Leafs try and find a way to change the identity of their team as they head into the 2025-26 season, they are going to need to at least do their best to replace some of the offensive firepower lost due to Mitch Marner's departure.
Buffalo potentially looking to move Alex Tuch this summer: James Mirtle
So with a new report from James Mirtle that reveals the Buffalo Sabres are willing to move Alex Tuch if he doesn't feel like re-signing with the team, that means he could be a big trade candidate this summer:
Alex Tuch, coming off a 36-goal season, has one year left before becoming a UFA; if he doesn't want to sign an extension, GM Kevyn Adams likely needs to move him to ensure he doesn't walk for no return. - James Mirtle
He's certainly a big part of Buffalo's offense, but with new senior advisor Jarmo Kekkalainen in tow, it looks like Adams might want to get him out of town for some new assets.
Adding a perennial 20-goal scorer isn't going to be easy though, but one team who could definitely use his services are the Toronto Maple Leafs; putting another wrinkle in their cross-border rivalry.
Alex Tuch would be the perfect replacement for Toronto's offensive woes
There's a lot to be said about what Toronto wants to do this offseason. They want to get bigger, nastier, and more sound defensively, and making a trade for the Sabres forward makes perfect sense.
Tuch, 29, is in the prime of his career, and if the Maple Leafs want to add some more size and scoring to Auston Matthews' wing, he certainly does at 6'4, 220 pounds.
He plays hard, throws hits, blocks a ton of shots, crashes the net with aplomb, and has the offensive chops to replace at least a good chunk of Marner's production.
He's not a huge playmaker, but with Matthews getting a lot more comfortable being a distributor this season, it shouldn't matter much. Plus, Tuch has 94 goals over his last three seasons, while also adding 241 blocks and 199 hits and a plus-39 in that span.
While he only has 66 games experience in the playoffs, he has 33 points and if given more of a chance to make the playoffs in Toronto, could easily add onto that in bunches.
Plus, he only makes $4.75M in the last year of his deal, and a change of scenery with a chance to win might be the catalyst that moves him out of town. Toronto won't have a lot of premium assets to trade; but could get it done.
Perhaps Toronto throws in Nick Robertson, Topi Niemala and their 2025 3rd Round Pick for a package involving Tuch and perhaps a lower pick in this year's draft.
It won't cost Brad Treliving much in way of prospects, can dish off a polarizing Robertson and unproven Niemala to a rebuilding and youthful Sabres team, and you can settle into a deal with Tuch.
Offering a five-year pact worth $31.25M would give him his richest contract ever, plus have him firmly set in a competition window for at least the next three seasons, with a contract that will become a better value as the cap rises.
If the reports are to be believed, then the Sabres are trying to change things up a bit, and if Kevyn Adams doesn't think Tuch is fully committed, he needs to send him out of town.
Preferably down the highway from KeyBank to Scotiabank.
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