The Buffalo Sabres’ magical run of 2025-26 came to an end at the hands of a Game 7 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After a stretch where they earned an NHL-best 63 points from a 29-9-5 record since the beginning of 2026, the Sabres ended a drought where they missed the playoffs for 14 years. They won the Atlantic Division for the first time in franchise history, having never finished above fifth in the division before this season. Overall, Buffalo finished with 50 wins and 109 points en route to the postseason.
A huge positive in the right direction for the trending upward Sabres came earlier today during end-of-season press conferences, after the team announced the extension of head coach Lindy Ruff to a two-year deal. Ruff has been with the Sabres before, but in his current stint with the Sabres, he has 86 wins across two seasons and is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, an honor bestowed upon him 20 years ago when he won the award behind the same bench in 2005-06.
The biggest headline outside of Ruff saw all eyes on pending UFA forward Alex Tuch. The Syracuse, NY native finished his fifth season with the Sabres, scoring 33 goals for 66 points in 79 games and adding seven points in 13 playoff games to cap off the final season of his seven-year, $33.25MM ($4.75MM AAV) contract. Tuch said he has an interest in coming back to Buffalo, and that general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen expressed that he wants him back in exit interviews. Contract talks were put on hold during the playoffs, but we’ll see where things go between the Sabres and Tuch.
Additional notes:
- Tage Thompson said he was dealing with lower back injuries that had been lingering from the regular season. He also expressed ‘hitting a wall’ throughout this hockey season, a campaign which began for him at the IIHF World Championships, winning gold for the USA in the summer of 2025 and later at the Olympics in February, leading into the playoff push. The 28-year-old forward finished his 2025-26 NHL season with 81 points in 81 games played and had 15 points in Buffalo’s 13 playoff games.
- In terms of injuries, there were a few notable admissions along with Thompson. Owen Power was dealing with a grade-3 ankle sprain that he suffered late in the second round series against the Montreal Canadiens. Logan Stanley was playing with an undisclosed injury, and Sam Carrick was rushed back from a left-arm injury he suffered in the regular season.
- Along with Lindy Ruff being a ‘no-brainer’ extension for Kekäläinen, there are certainly some decisions that will require all parties to take time as Buffalo moves into its first summer where the grass is greener, thanks to a playoff berth. The window is now open, and Kekäläinen has to build on what this team he inherited had been able to accomplish. Buffalo has just $12.9MM in cap space as they enter this summer, and a good chunk of impact players that they’ll want to ensure they can retain before they make additions to the core. Along with Tuch, Buffalo has to address UFA forwards Beck Malenstyn, Tanner Pearson, Joshua Dunne, and defensemen Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley. On the RFA side, three key younger members in Peyton Krebs, Zach Benson, and defenseman Michael Kesselring are expiring this summer. Kekäläinen also said he told defenseman Bowen Byram, who has a year left at $6.25MM, that he’d like to have him back on a long-term deal.
Tage Thompson said something interesting about hitting a wall, Even more reasons for players to avoid meaningless exhibitions, And, Put your paid employer first. It’s an absolute obligation. As for Sabre free agents, Signing Tuch is a priority, And, Zach Benson, Let the rest walk.
I disagree. Let Tuch and others walk and use money to re-sign Benson and Byram and possibly Krebs.
At this point I don’t see why they bring Tuch back, or at least don’t see why they would break the bank for him. If he’s willing to sign for, like, 8x$8 sure, why not, but with Ostlund and Kulich back and the way Helenius played in the playoffs, plus Tuch being invisible against Montreal why do they need him? Save the cap space for Benson and Byram.
I agree, Buffalo would love to have Tuch back , And why wouldn’t they? But, There has to be a plan in place, They have to set the term, And, number, I also can’t blame Tuch to take the money, And, I truly believe that there are bad GMs out there that will offer Alex Tuch the moon. Chayka, Sweeney, Waddell, Bowman, And, Holland to name a few. Buffalo will lose the bidding war IF Kekalainen is smart. Buffalo also can’t lose sight of the importance of signing Benson.
Re-signing Benson and also re-signing Byram to keep the Top 4 Defense in place is huge. Probably cannot do that after re-signing Tuch to what he and his agent want.
Alex Tuch is a great player and, from a hockey standpoint, I’d love to have him back in Buffalo. But the math doesn’t math. Resign Tuch and they have to cheap out elsewhere.
Have the cap limits for next season been announced yet? If not, an increase could make it easier for BUF to squeeze in a Tuch contract.
Bottom line, you can’t have both of Tuch and Norris. You can only afford one of them. Byram probably has to get moved as well. They need a top 6 forward on top of re-signing or replacing Tuch. Only way to do it is shed some real salary.
Norris is a liability, Great player when he plays, I’d trade Norris yesterday, And, Go with Thompson, McLeod, Kulich, And, Ostlund down the middle, In that order.
The problem is the rest of the league knows this too. If Norris gets shipped out, another team is going to want Ostlund OR Helenius too and that shouldn’t happen.
With only $12million in cap space for 2026-27, the Sabres will have undergo a mix of trades & re-signings from amongst their present roster to keep even some of the UFAs & RFAs they have. Tuch would probably get his moolah elsewhere, the Sabres can’t afford the $10M he is projected by most analysts to get in the UFA market.
Move on from Greenway.
Resign Benson.
Extend Byram.
Resign BeckM.
Danforth could replace Krebs if he is looking for top 6 forward money.
If Krebs is Resigned Danforth can be moved.
Carrick is around next season as the 4th line center.
With Ostlund, Helenius & Kulich (coming back. 15 goals as a rookie) Buffalo has high upside young forwards to replace Tuch.
Quinn is also still around.
On Defense Jarmo has options- Kess? Timmons? to decide who sticks around. Having Metsa & Johnson waiting in Rochester helps.
Goalies- Buffalo should go with a
Ellis,Levi,Lyon
Or
Ellis,UPL,Levi
Or
UPL,Ellis,Lyon
For next season.
Levi can always be dealt by the trade deadline if the team moves on from UPL.
Young goalies can always just blossom in the crease at any given time. You never know.