Alex Tuch is the next major addition to the Washington Capitals.
The Capitals have completed a sign-and-trade deal with the Buffalo Sabres for the high-scoring winger. Tuch will land in Washington and sign an 8-year extension worth $10.5 million per season. To net his exclusive negotiating rights, the Caps are sending a 2027 third-round pick, originally owned by the San Jose Sharks, and the contract rights to pending UFA David Kampf back to the Sabres.
According to PuckPedia, Tuch will have a full no-movement clause for the first four years of his contract, a 21-team no-trade list for the next three years, and then a 15-team no-trade list in the final year.
Tuch has spent the past five seasons with the Sabres, recording a career-best 79 points (36g, 43a) during the 2022-23 campaign. This past season, he finished third on the team in scoring with 66 points (33g, 33a) in 79 games, adding seven points (4g, 3a) in 13 playoff games.
The 30-year-old winger was seen as the top prize of this year’s shallow free agency class and adds another element of dynamic rush offense, just as the trade for Jordan Kyrou did a day prior. The Sabres were great with Tuch on the ice at five-on-five, seeing 51.4 percent of shot attempts, 52 percent of expected goals, 50.5 percent of scoring chances, and 53.5 percent of high-danger chances.
“Alex was a highly coveted player, and we are pleased that he chose to come to Washington,” Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said in a press release. “Alex is a top-six offensive forward who brings size, versatility, and the ability to contribute in all situations. He consistently gets to the net, competes at a high level, plays a strong 200-foot game, and has proven year after year to be a highly effective goal scorer and productive offensive player.
“Beyond what he brings on the ice, his leadership, work ethic, and commitment to playing the right way make him an invaluable addition to our group. We believe he will have a significant impact both on and off the ice and will be an excellent fit within our forward corps.”
Tuch played at all three strengths for the Sabres, including ranking second among Buffalo’s forwards in shorthanded ice time per game (2:26). Among all NHL players over the past three seasons, he also ranks 23rd in five-on-five scoring with 129 points (60g, 69a), placing him ahead of names like Filip Forsberg, Jack Eichel, Tage Thompson, Cale Makar, Matt Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov, and Brady Tkachuk.
The former 18th overall pick was briefly teammates with Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson when their stints with the Vegas Golden Knights overlapped during the 2020-21 campaign. While in Vegas, Tuch was famously the player whom Braden Holtby made “The Save” against in Game 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
Tuch has also finished top 15 in Selke Trophy voting the past two seasons, adding another two-way threat to Washington’s lineup. With his new contract, he becomes the highest-paid player, in terms of single-season AAV, in Capitals franchise history.
With the addition of Tuch, the Capitals have just over $12.7 million in salary cap space for next season.
