Maple Leaf Can Land in Suggestion Blockbusters with Sabre – Hockey Writer – Toronto Maple Leaf
Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres have two different goals in their two goals entering the 2025-26 season, and with that in mind, it’s possible that they will reach a deal that benefits both of them. The Maple Leafs need to continue trying to find players to replace Mitchell Marner, who decided to join the Vegas Golden Knights this summer, and Alex Tuch might be their ideal goal.
Related: Trusted Oiler Experts Suggest Connor McDavid’s Creative Contract Extension
Saber has made it clear on several occasions that despite being trapped in the reconstruction they would rather keep the tuch, they could still be willing to move at the right price. Maple Leaf does have assets to make the deal, and if they can bring him in, he might prove to be a valuable playoff asset, considering how big he is on both ends between the ice.
Even since he was traded to Saber as part of his return match as superstar Jack Eichel, he has been a solid two-way player and has improved since then. From the trading period, he looked at his analysis:
Alex Tuch sold to Buf, a quick two-way second-tier winger who is very good at stealing hockey, winning battles and transitional offenses. #letsgobuffalo pic.twitter.com/s7mtnckblg
– jfresh(@jfreshhockey) November 4, 2021
He has been improving since then and has become a valuable asset with the sword, becoming one of their few highlights as they continue to work hard to find success. Tuch, 29, scored 36 goals and added 31 assists in 82 games, scoring 67 points, with an average score of 0.82 points. Throughout his career, he scored 167 goals in 536 games and added 215 assists to score 382 points and an average of 0.71 points.
Tuch can insert Maple Leaf’s top six forwards directly into the team, and while Saber may want some powerful assets to come back and consider moving forward from him, his pending Unlimited Free agent (UFA) status may attract them to move him before risking losing him to nothing.
What will the trade look like?
Tuch currently has only $4,750,000 in hat cover, while Maple Leaf has only $1,919,722 in cap space, which means they have to move some money out. On top of that, Tuch has a list of 5 teams without trade that provides him with some slight protection and has chosen his position.
With all this in mind, Maple Leaf can still figure out something. They will have to move out Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf to free up the funds he needs to get him, but that’s not hard to know. Assuming everyone figured out what this deal looked like?
In fact, a deal looks like Maple Leafs acquires Tuch in exchange for Nicholas Robertson, Topi Niemela, a conditional 2028 first-round pick and 2027 fourth-round pick.
The move provides the Saber with two promising young players who can benefit from the scenery changes and give them two draft picks. If Tuch doesn’t reach a certain number of points next season, or doesn’t re-sign with Maple Leaf, the conditions for a future draft pick may be related to its switching to an earlier second-round draft pick.
If the maple leaf can do this only if the attached extension is attached with an extension, the Saber can ask for another transit pick to complete the deal.
Time will tell if Tuch considers movement, or if Sabers considers trading him next season, closer to the 2026 trade deadline, but if he is available, maple leaves should be all over him and such a package should be enough to complete.
As the 2025-26 season approaches, please keep paying attention Hockey writer As your source of news from around the NHL and the hockey world.
Salary cap data is provided by Puckpedia.
