With just 72 hours until the NHL Trade Deadline, the anticipation has hit a fever pitch. Teams are finalizing their plans as the deadline draws closer, and negotiations become tighter. Just a month ago, it seemed that the Edmonton Oilers would be content to largely stand pat, maybe make a depth addition to bolster their roster.
A five-game losing streak has put paid to those plans. It has become rapidly clear that the Oilers may need more assistance than they believed, and one particular area of the lineup that could use some reinforcements is the top six. Aside from Connor McDavid and Hart Trophy favourite, Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers have struggled to get consistent performance from their other top-six options, specifically on the wings.
Offseason signings Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner have failed to make the impacts many believed they would, and uneven years from Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have not done the upper end of the lineup any favours. Matthew Savoie seems to show promise, but it’s too early to gauge his impact.
It seems then that the Oilers may have to turn to the trade market in order to find a solution. Fortunately, there are a number of high quality options that the Oilers could potentially explore. The one I’d like to take a look at today is Alex Tuch.
Who Is Alex Tuch?
A talented, big body winger, Alex Tuch is 28-years-old and currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres. Originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2014, he made his NHL debut in the 2016 season. He was then traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 Expansion Draft, where he blossomed into a three time 50-point scorer. I
n 2021, he was part of the main return going back to the Sabres in the Jack Eichel trade, and quickly became a fan favourite in Buffalo, scoring 79 points in the 2022–23 season. Tuch has the rare combo of both size and skill, which makes him an interesting potential target for the Oilers.
Tuch’s fit in Edmonton
Tuch’s fit in Edmonton seems to be clear. At 6’4”, 220lbs he cuts an imposing figure on the wing. He’s also a natural right handed shot, which allows him to easily slot into either a first or second line position with the Oilers. With the Evander Kane situation currently up in the air, Tuch could present a replacement to the kind of player that Kane is. More importantly for the Oilers, Tuch’s contract is very affordable. He’s currently in year six of a seven-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.75M.
This would put Tuch on the lower end of Edmonton’s forwards in terms of cap space, and the extra year would only improve this. If he were to be acquired, it would be easy to slot him into the first right wing position alongside Connor McDavid, giving the Oilers captain a big, physical winger with a scoring touch.
It could also stand to reason that he could play with Leon Draisaitl in the second right wing spot. With Vasily Podkolzin flanking Draisaitl’s left wing, the Oilers would suddenly have a very large second line capable of both putting the puck in the net and the opponent through the glass.
Tuch on the second line could also facilitate Savoie’s ascension to the top line, a strategy that served the Oilers well last season when Dylan Holloway properly joined the team from the AHL. All in all, Tuch presents himself as a upgrade on Kane’s position, as he is both younger and cheaper, and gives the Oilers a multitude of different line combinations.
What it would cost to acquire Tuch
Unfortunately, the Sabres are also aware of Tuch’s skillset and affordable contract. I don’t get the sense that Buffalo would be particularly enthused to move a player like Tuch, especially due to the fact that he grew up a Sabres fan in nearby Syracuse, New York. However, no one is untouchable, and the Sabres may look to capitalize on Tuch’s value while it is still very high.
It is likely that a trade for Tuch would involve not just prospects, but NHL calibre players that Buffalo can insert directly into their lineup. For a team like Edmonton, the opportunity to add a player like Tuch doesn’t come around very often. In terms of what a deal might look like, I could see Edmonton offering a higher prospect like Sam O’Reilly or Beau Akey.
The roster player area is more tricky. The recent reveal that Viktor Arvidsson’s contract has a full no-move clause may throw a wrench into his involvement in any deals. However, Buffalo may be willing to take a chance on a more veteran winger having a bit of a down year, combined with the promise of a quick-riser prospect like O’Reilly.
Evander Kane’s injury situation could also play a part in this. Kane recently submitted a 16-team no-trade clause, as his full no-move clause expired. If the Oilers were able to trade Kane, they would have enough cap space to fully take Tuch’s $4.75M salary without needing to clear any cap space beforehand. Kane’s situation will ultimately impact all of the Oilers deadline plans.
Is Tuch the right move?
The argument could be made Tuch is perhaps too rich for the Oilers’ blood. Buffalo will likely want assets Edmonton may be unwilling, or unable to part with. However, Edmonton’s main concern in the offseason was bolstering team finishing, and those moves have not panned out the way they had hoped.
Acquiring Tuch not only would improve the Oilers’ depth at forward, but the extra year of salary would allow them to potentially re-sign Tuch in the summer, ensuring he remains a key piece of the core moving forwards. Sometimes contenders need to make big moves in order to truly improve, and I believe that a move for Alex Tuch would be a worthwhile one in both the short, and long-term.
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Alex Tuch is this year’s Ekholm deal if a suitable package can be agreed upon.