Buffalo Sabres & Tampa Bay Lightning Emerging as Trade Partners

The Tampa Bay Lightning sent scouts to Buffalo on Saturday to scope out the Sabres/Montreal Canadiens game, and there's speculation brewing that the Lightning have their eyes set out for Sabres' winger Alex Tuch. The Lightning have been scouting the Sabres for a few weeks now, with trade talks heating up between the two clubs.

Tuch, 28, is a 6-foot-4 winger who consistently puts up solid numbers on a struggling Sabres' squad. So far this season through 58 games, Tuch has scored 22 goals and 46 points. He's averaging 19:19 of ice-time per game, including over two minutes on each side of special teams.

Tuch has some Stanley Cup Playoff experience with the Vegas Golden Knights, recording 33 points in 66 postseason games. The Syracuse, NY native has one season left on his contract at $4.75 million AAV, and does own a five-team no-trade clause.

The Lightning currently have $5.4 million in cap space and can fit in Tuch with ease. They always seem to land at least one forward and one defenseman before the trade deadline, and with their current hot streak, how propelled their way up the standings in the Eastern Conference, now third in the Atlantic Division.

Tampa Bay has no first-round pick in 2025, but do have two second-round picks, and a few top prospects who could appeal to Sabres' GM Kevyn Adams.

I'm told several teams are calling on the availability of Alex Tuch, but Tampa Bay still appears to covet him most.

The 28-year-old has one year remaining on his deal at 4.75M.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) March 2, 2025

With the #Sabrehood trying to trade Henri Jokiharju, who'd welcome a move, they continue to get calls on others, including Alex Tuch, who has 1 more year left on his contract. Word is Buffalo's set a very high price. They prefer to keep him, unless a team is willing to overpay.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 2, 2025