Washington Capitals go all-in and acquire Star Sabres player as part of sign-and-trade
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Daniel Lucente
Jun 24, 2026 (3:56 PM)
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Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Washington has added Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade with Buffalo, landing the 30-year-old winger on an eight-year deal worth $10.5 million per season.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet and Daily Faceoff confirmed the deal Wednesday afternoon after a morning of rising expectation.
Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen had already publicly acknowledged that Tuch would not be coming back to Buffalo.
The Sabres returned to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2011, with Tuch central to that run.
He posted 33 goals and 66 points in 79 regular season games, then added four goals across 13 playoff games.
Losing a producer of that caliber is a real blow for Buffalo. Kekäläinen at least recovers assets through the sign-and-trade rather than watching Tuch walk for nothing on July 1.
Washington just committed $18.6 million in 48 hours
This is the number that deserves more attention. One day after acquiring Jordan Kyrou from St. Louis at $8.125 million AAV, general manager Chris Patrick has now added Tuch at $10.5 million.
That puts Washington at $18.625 million in new cap commitments, all before Alex Ovechkin has made any decision about returning.
Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday that Ovechkin is not expected to announce before July 1.
If the NHL's all-time goal scorer comes back at even a modest number, Washington's remaining cap space tightens considerably.
Why the Capitals are betting on this window anyway
Head coach Spencer Carbery signed a multiyear extension just six days ago. The Capitals missed the playoffs last season by four points, finishing just outside the wild-card line, and Patrick is clearly not treating this as a patient rebuild.
Tuch gives Carbery a legitimate top-six right wing capable of playing alongside Dylan Strome.
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, the physical dimension he brings was something Washington's forward group lacked all of last season.
The message from Patrick is straightforward: build the roster now, and trust Ovechkin follows.
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Previously on HockeyLatest