The Washington Capitals had emerged as favorites to land Alex Tuch earlier on Wednesday (Jun. 24) morning, and as the day went on, it became clear they were finalizing a sign-and-trade to land him and extend him.
The Capitals announced that they had acquired Tuch from the Sabres, with an extension, in exchange for David Kampf and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2027 third-round pick (originally from San Jose) and forward David Kampf. Prior to the trade, Buffalo signed Tuch to an eight-year, $84 million contract extension.#ALLCAPS | @Shift4
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 24, 2026
Capitals' general manager, Chris Patrick, on the trade said, "Alex was a highly coveted player, and we are pleased that he chose to come to Washington."
Patrick continued: "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, who is 30 years old, is coming off of a solid campaign with the Sabres, scoring 33 goals and adding 33 assists for 66 points through 79 games. Throughout his career, he has scored 200 goals and added 248 assitss for 448 points through 615 games, which comes out to a 0.73 points-per-game average.
The max term extension for Tuch could be a huge risk for the Capitals near the end of the contract, but at the end of the day, they are looking to contend as soon as next season, and will soon have to shift their focus to life after Alex Ovechkin, and their recent moves set them up to do just that.
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