As July 1st gets closer and closer, the Buffalo Sabres need to accept the reality that Alex Tuch is unlikely to sign-and-trade, instead go into free agency. For general manager Jarmo Kekalainen he has one more chance to get at least something in return before Tuch was to leave in free agency, and that is with a sign-and-trade.
While the NHL saw a sign-and-trade last offseason between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights, they are rather rare. They are complex as it requires the Sabres to find a team that Tuch wants to join and then determine what the contract might be that the new team is willing to offer that the player will accept.
Once those steps are taken care of, the Sabres and that new team then need to figure out what the compensation might be. Generally, it hasn't been much because the new team could just sign Tuch starting on July 1st. However, they might be willing to offer something to guarantee they can sign him before any team.
Buffalo Sabres have a chance to get creative in a trade with the San Jose Sharks
One team that has probably positioned itself well to be a team Alex Tuch would consider while having the cap space to offer him the contract he wants is the San Jose Sharks. They look to be a team on the rise with superstar Macklin Celebrini leading the way, and Tuch could see an opportunity to join a team at just the right moment.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks, according to Pierre LeBrun at the end of May, have been open to moving the second-overall pick if the right situation came along.
For the Buffalo Sabres, they certainly would have to offer more than just the rights to negotiate with Alex Tuch for the second overall pick. However, the rights combined with their first round pick and maybe another prospect or even restricted free agent Peyton Krebs could be enough to move up to second overall.
It puts the Sabres in a great position to draft either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, with it more than likely being Stenberg. However, that might be a better fit for the Sabres as Stenberg is more of a gritty 200-foot winger in the same mold as Tuch.
He is also probably ready to make the jump to the NHL right away after four goals and four assists in the IIHF World Championship for Team Sweden, as the latest example. While the Sabres would be making a move primarily for a draft pick, it is a player who can help very early in his career.
While the final trade package might have to be refined, the idea of a sign and trade with the Sharks for Alex Tuch and the 2027 first round pick to move up to second overall is an interesting way to get a valuable piece for the Sabres' future in a situation where they might not have gotten anything.
