Alex Tuch will see plenty of familiar faces across the ice Saturday, but the Capitals winger expects the first meeting with Buffalo to carry a different weight. Washington hosts the Sabres at Capital One Arena at 7 p.m. ET, and Tuch’s reunion comes only months after a contract impasse ended his five-season run with the team he grew up cheering for in Syracuse, New York.
From Buffalo cornerstone to Washington arrival
- Tuch joined Buffalo on Nov. 4, 2021, when the Sabres dealt Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights. He had previously reached the 2018 Stanley Cup Final with Vegas, which lost that series to Washington.
- Over five seasons in Buffalo, Tuch became one of the club’s established leaders. He helped the Sabres end a 14-year playoff drought last season before their run finished with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round.
- The 30-year-old produced 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games last season, finishing second on Buffalo in goals and third in scoring. It was his third 30-goal season.
- After the sides could not reach terms on a new deal, Buffalo arranged a sign-and-trade with Washington on June 24. Tuch signed an eight-year, $84 million contract, while the Sabres received a third-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft and the rights to unrestricted free-agent forward David Kampf, who was not subsequently signed.
- Tuch has made an immediate impact for the 5-4-0 Capitals. Moved from his customary right wing to the left side, he leads Washington with five goals, sits second with seven points and has averaged 18:48 per game, the highest mark among Capitals forwards, through nine games.
“I’ve got a big, dumb smile on my face just thinking about playing against those guys,” Tuch said Friday. He said he misses his former teammates and still cares deeply about them, while adding that he is happy in Washington and expects a difficult game.
Friday offered Tuch a chance to catch up with former teammates and friends over dinner. Once the puck drops, though, the winger expects a more personal kind of homecoming than the one he experienced after leaving Vegas.
When Tuch first faced the Golden Knights as a Sabre on Feb. 1, 2022, attention centered largely on Eichel’s return following his trade request and dispute with Buffalo over treatment for a herniated disk in his neck. Tuch said the Buffalo matchup is different because he left the Sabres as an older, more connected player.
“I’ve got a lot of guys that I mentored there,” Tuch said. “We were a really close group. It will be a little bit different.”
A familiar opponent in the corners
The game will not be entirely foreign. Tuch knows Buffalo’s habits from years of practices, and the Sabres know his game just as well. He joked that he is waiting to find out which former teammate delivers the first extra shove, putting his money on forward Zach Benson.
“I’ve gone in corners with those guys in practice so many times it’s going to feel normal,” Tuch said. “I know everyone’s tendencies, but they all know my tendencies, too.”
The return trip to Buffalo on March 18 figures to be even more emotional for Tuch. Playing for the Sabres, the club he supported as a child, was “a dream come true,” he said. He took particular pride in helping end the franchise’s long playoff absence and said wearing the Buffalo jersey mattered to him every night.
Still, Tuch sees Washington as the right next chapter. The Capitals missed the playoffs last season but reshaped the roster in the offseason, adding Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais. Tuch believes the group has the pieces to return to the postseason and chase a larger goal.
“I see a lot of potential in this group here,” Tuch said. “I think we can achieve great things.”
Capitals value Tuch’s all-situations game
Tuch has landed in a room that blends established veterans with young contributors. Alex Ovechkin, 41, and Tom Wilson, 32, provide experience up front, while Ryan Leonard, 21, Ilya Protas, 20, and defenseman Cole Hutson, 20, are among the younger players in the mix.
Wilson said Tuch’s versatility has shown up quickly, regardless of line assignment or game situation.
“He’s a very versatile guy,” Wilson said. “He has so many tools that make him a premier player in this League. Whoever he plays with, he makes them better. He can create on his own, move the puck, score, and he’s good defensively. He’s a smart, well-rounded player who can be used in any situation.”
Tuch said he has developed chemistry with several teammates despite the position switch and changing line combinations. Washington’s system has been familiar enough that he has been able to settle in without overthinking the transition.
Saturday, that adjustment will be tested against the club that gave him one of the most meaningful stretches of his career. The pregame reunion is one thing. The game itself will be another.
