Pending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch is the top forward potentially available this season, and he's unsure if he'll return to the Buffalo Sabres or test the open market.
"I have no idea," Tuch said at his exit interview Wednesday. "I wish I could tell you the future, honestly. I really just don't know how it's going to unfold. It's something that I'm going to have to do a lot of thinking about."
Tuch is from Syracuse and grew up a Sabres fan. He just wrapped up his fifth season with the club after being acquired in the trade that sent former captain Jack Eichel to Vegas.
"I love it here, I've loved my time here, I love playing hockey here," Tuch said. "I'm going to do whatever is best for myself and my family."
He added, "Like I said, I don't know how the talks are going to proceed, I don't know what they're going to say, I don't know the future, but my main priority is my family."
Buffalo snapped a 14-year playoff drought this season but fell to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of Round 2 on Monday. Tuch has evolved into a core piece for the Sabres and recorded 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games this season. His playoff performance was a key talking point for Buffalo, as he notched seven points in six games against the Boston Bruins in Round 1 but failed to find the scoresheet once against the Habs.
Tuch noted that general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has expressed a desire to re-sign him, and Sabres stars Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson said during their exit interviews that they hoped the winger would return.
Reports in March suggested Tuch is seeking a $10-million average annual value on his next deal, which would make him the second-highest paid player on the Sabres after Dahlin. Buffalo has approximately $12.9 million in cap space this offseason, per PuckPedia.
