Sabres trading Alex Tuch to Capitals who are giving him $84 million contract

Alex Tuch is heading to the nation’s capital.The Capitals are acquiring Tuch from the Sabres in a sign-and-trade that will see him get an eight-year, $84 million contract, per multiple reports.Buffalo, where Tuch spent five seasons and served as an alternate captain, will get a third-round pick as part of the deal, The Athletic reports.Tuch, 30, was sent to Buffalo in 2021 as part of the trade that sent Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights.The hometown kid grew up in Baldwinsville, N.Y., about two hours from Buffalo, and grew up rooting for the Sabres.

In 360 games for Buffalo, he recorded 309 points, with three thirty-goal seasons.His career with the Sabres was highlighted by a 79-point season in 2022-23.This past season, when the Sabres broke their 14-year playoff drought, Tuch put up 33 goals and 66 points.

He recorded seven points in six games in the first round of the playoffs against the Bruins, a series the Sabres won in six games.His production slowed down significantly in the second round against the Canadiens, being held without a point in seven games.

The Sabres lost a heartbreaking Game 7 in overtime.Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen had said earlier Wednesday that he expected Tuch’s time with the team to come to a close.Tuch was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year on July 1.

Both sides publicly expressed their desire to negotiate a new contract, but the gap was too wide.On the other side, the Capitals have had an active week.They acquired forward Jordan Kyrou from the St.

Louis Blues on Tuesday.They now await Alex Ovechkin’s decision on whether he will retire before next season, a decision he is not expected to announce before July 1, per The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun....