Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch failed to register a point in the club's seven‑game second‑round sweep by the Montreal Canadiens, raising doubts about his next contract. The 30‑year‑old, who led the team with 66 points in 79 games, will enter unrestricted free agency after the final year of a $33.25 million deal signed with Vegas in 2018.

Tuch’s agent Scott Bartlett dismissed speculation that the playoff slump would hurt his market value. “I guarantee you it doesn’t change a single thing as far as how he’s viewed across the market,” Bartlett said. He noted Tuch’s 26 shots on goal and the defensive effort that kept him in the game at season end.

During the first‑round clash with Boston, Tuch led Buffalo with four goals and seven points, but against Montreal his ice time dipped from 21:19 to 19:53 and he finished with a minus‑8 rating. Bartlett stressed that every top player experiences “peaks and valleys,” and that Tuch’s overall production remains strong for the team in the coming season and he remains a key asset.

The Sabres’ general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has signaled willingness to re‑sign Tuch if a mutually agreeable number surfaces, while teammate Tage Thompson praised his leadership. With the trade deadline approaching, Buffalo faces the challenge of balancing a veteran core with cap flexibility, as the market anticipates Tuch’s next move for the team in the next.