Rumor: Cam Robinson - Tuch Availability

[tsujimoto74]

And the Sabres still aren’t interested in moving him.

 

[Hodge]

We have a whole year to worry about that... so until that time comes... the ask will reflect that.

Thanks for your input.

During which time Tuch's trade value will steadily drop as the biggest reason teams like Tampa and LA are interested, his contract, becomes less and less of an advantage.

Trading him for Conor Geekie and a 1st is a good deal for Buffalo. They're getting pieces that fit their realistic timeline better than Tuch does.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Colorado doesn’t need more wingers, but he’d fit in so well in terms of what they like. Pairing him with Nichushkin would make such a pain in the ass line to play against

 

[Beerz]

During which time Tuch's trade value will steadily drop as the biggest reason teams like Tampa and LA are interested, his contract, becomes less and less of an advantage.

Trading him for Conor Geekie and a 1st is a good deal for Buffalo. They're getting pieces that fit their realistic timeline better than Tuch does.

Yeah you have no idea what is happening in Buffalo.

 

[Viqsi]

During which time Tuch's trade value will steadily drop as the biggest reason teams like Tampa and LA are interested, his contract, becomes less and less of an advantage.

Trading him for Conor Geekie and a 1st is a good deal for Buffalo. They're getting pieces that fit their realistic timeline better than Tuch does.

Given the number of futures Buffalo already has and how useful Tuch is for getting the most out of those guys as they grow up, I suspect that's a risk they're willing to take. We did the same thing over here with Boone Jenner with folks insisting we had to move him while there was still time to max out his value, and oh, hey, look at that, the kids are breaking out.

Will it go exactly that way for Buffalo? Heck if I know; we made other moves that had bigger impacts that helped (such as replacing our GM and getting really fortunate with Monahan, and G-d forbid they ever have to go through anything like what we did with Johnny (z''l)). But it's a known part of smart rebuilding. It's not just "sell sell sell sell sell sell sell".

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Tuch was traded at the deadline. Traded to Tampa would surprise me a little.

 

[Viqsi]

Colorado doesn’t need more wingers, but he’d fit in so well in terms of what they like. Pairing him with Nichushkin would make such a pain in the ass line to play against

Oh, my daydream is giving him ice time alongside Fantilli and KJ on our second line. (This fantasy of course also includes Monahan returning from injury to go back to #1C duties). Problem is, it appears he's a bit too costly to acquire under the circumstances.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

This thread is f***ing nauseating. Your prospects aren’t better than what the Sabres already have. Unless you have an nhl ready top 4 RHD or top 6 C, which, if you did have, you wouldn’t trade.

You can get that on draft day brother. If Buffalo has a top 5 pick, then there's no limit to what Adams can ask for. That is option A.

The only teams asking about Tuch are probably teams trying to win a Cup. Either Adams needs to hang up the phone -and he clearly has not. Or there needs to be an acceptance of the reality that no contender on the planet is going to sacrifice a top 4 D or either of their top 2 centers right now. Which leaves option B. Do nothing. Option C is crossing your fingers hoping for a Duchene trade while Buffalo is probably top 3 on everyone's "Do not trade list"

I admire your stance. But man. I dont know how you're pulling Option C. With anyone

 

[Viqsi]

You can get that on draft day brother. If Buffalo has a top 5 pick, then there's no limit to what Adams can ask for. That is option A.

The only teams asking about Tuch are probably teams trying to win a Cup. Either Adams needs to hang up the phone -and he clearly has not. Or there needs to be an acceptance of the reality that no contender on the planet is going to sacrifice a top 4 D or either of their top 2 centers right now. Which leaves option B. Do nothing. Option C is crossing your fingers hoping for a Duchene trade while Buffalo is probably top 3 on everyone's "Do not trade list"

I admire your stance. But man. I dont know how you're pulling Option C. With anyone

In Tuch's case, I think Option B is the preferred outcome. He's not the only player they have. Option C is astronomically unlikely (it never worked out that way for us) but you can't win if you don't try.

 

[Hodge]

Yeah you have no idea what is happening in Buffalo.

They're not trying to build around some combination of Thompson, Dahlin, Power, Cozens, Byram, Benson, Kulich, Peterka and Quinn? All of whom except Thompson are closer in age to Geekie than to Tuch. Geekie would also address the glaring lack of size in Buffalo's forward prospect pool which Adams clearly sees as an issue given the Savoie for McLeod trade.

Extending a 30 year old Tuch for what he's likely to command as a UFA would mean paying big bucks for his decline years just as much younger forwards like Benson, Kulich, Peterka, Quinn, potentially Ostlund and Helenius, are coming up for new contracts.

 

[Viqsi]

They're not trying to build around some combination of Thompson, Dahlin, Power, Cozens, Byram, Benson, Kulich, Peterka and Quinn? All of whom except Thompson are closer in age to Geekie than to Tuch. Geekie would also address the glaring lack of size in Buffalo's forward prospect pool which Adams clearly sees as an issue given the Savoie for McLeod trade.

Extending a 30 year old Tuch for what he's likely to command as a UFA would mean paying big bucks for his decline years just as much younger forwards like Benson, Kulich, Peterka, Quinn, potentially Ostlund and Helenius, are coming up for new contracts.

Can't have a roster where damn near everyone is the same age. It doesn't make for a good competitive mix. If those kids don't have vets who know what adversity is like at the NHL level then you just end up with the blind leading the blind.

 

[Hodge]

Given the number of futures Buffalo already has and how useful Tuch is for getting the most out of those guys as they grow up, I suspect that's a risk they're willing to take. We did the same thing over here with Boone Jenner with folks insisting we had to move him while there was still time to max out his value, and oh, hey, look at that, the kids are breaking out.

Will it go exactly that way for Buffalo? Heck if I know; we made other moves that had bigger impacts that helped (such as replacing our GM and getting really fortunate with Monahan, and G-d forbid they ever have to go through anything like what we did with Johnny (z''l)). But it's a known part of smart rebuilding. It's not just "sell sell sell sell sell sell sell".

Jenner is a homegrown captain who has never played for another team. I know Tuch grew up in Syracuse but he's on his third team and has only been a Sabre for a few years. It's just not a meaningful comparison. Buffalo has to get value for Tuch if they're not confident he will sign a team-friendly (i.e. 5 years or less) extension - and why would he do a favor like that to a non-playoff team he has no particular reason to be loyal to?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Buffalo should be consolidating their prospects for more of Tuch's ilk.

 

[Hodge]

Can't have a roster where damn near everyone is the same age. It doesn't make for a good competitive mix. If those kids don't have vets who know what adversity is like at the NHL level then you just end up with the blind leading the blind.

I completely agree but that vet doesn't need to be Tuch. It can just as easily be Zucker and/or other UFA signings like him. They'll still be led by Thompson who's also significantly older than a lot of these guys.

 

[Beerz]

They're not trying to build around some combination of Thompson, Dahlin, Power, Cozens, Byram, Benson, Kulich, Peterka and Quinn? All of whom except Thompson are closer in age to Geekie than to Tuch. Geekie would also address the glaring lack of size in Buffalo's forward prospect pool which Adams clearly sees as an issue given the Savoie for McLeod trade.

Extending a 30 year old Tuch for what he's likely to command as a UFA would mean paying big bucks for his decline years just as much younger forwards like Benson, Kulich, Peterka, Quinn, potentially Ostlund and Helenius, are coming up for new contracts.

I don't know if you have been around the last 14 ish years or not... but the Buffalo Sabres can not afford to wait around for 20 year olds to come of age. This isn't a rebuild.... there will be a literal revolt in Buffalo if they trade pieces like Tuch for futures. This isn't a team that has missed playoffs for 3 or 4 years. This franchise is on the brink of collapse. The season ticket base has been absolutely decimated.

Your thought process is for a normal rebuilding NHL team. Buffalo is not in that position.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

In Tuch's case, I think Option B is the preferred outcome. He's not the only player they have. Option C is astronomically unlikely (it never worked out that way for us) but you can't win if you don't try.

The problem for Buffalo is Tuch isn't the only option. He's just a very good one. Yes. Yes. They don’t want prospects. But if that's all they can get, they can always flip the prospects.

I'm a Lightning fan. Let me regale you in how Rick Dudley (famous in Buffalo) fell back asswards into a Cup contender trading up from a paper clip, chewed gum and cow manure. The Sabres are in a fantastic position to do business with what they have in stock

I honestly hope for the best with them

 

[Viqsi]

Jenner is a homegrown captain who has never played for another team. I know Tuch grew up in Syracuse but he's on his third team and has only been a Sabre for a few years. It's just not a meaningful comparison. Buffalo has to get value for Tuch if they're not confident he will sign a team-friendly (i.e. 5 years or less) extension - and why would he do a favor like that to a non-playoff team he has no particular reason to be loyal to?

In the absence of other context I would be inclined to agree. My understanding from these debates, tho, is that Tuch has entrenched himself over there to a similar degree and has a similar impact on their kids. Thus the comparison.

I completely agree but that vet doesn't need to be Tuch. It can just as easily be Zucker and/or other UFA signings like him. They'll still be led by Thompson who's also significantly older than a lot of these guys.

The problem there is really that they need more than what they already have. Much like the Jackets did. (This based on the fact that for the last couple years every time any of us Jackets fans would take a peek at rumors around someone like that, we'd keep running into these f***ers trying to poach our targets. And we've since gotten great returns out of picking up Monahan and JvR and moving on from Laine, while Buffalo in the meantime has... um... yeah.) So I can easily see why it's much more productive for their build plans to keep him a while longer.

 

[majormajor]

You give him too much credit. His main directive from ownership is low cost.

What I wonder about that though is that Tuch's salary is still only $4.75m, not bad, and the Sabres still have to get to the cap floor. Who are they spending money on to get to the cap floor next year?

Tuch reminds me a hell of a lot of when we kept telling people over here that Jenner wasn't for sale despite lots of folks calling again and again

The difference seems to be that Columbus is happy to pay to keep their veterans and Buffalo isn't. We've been infinitely lucky to have our ownership in Columbus.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

I don't know if you have been around the last 14 ish years or not... but the Buffalo Sabres can not afford to wait around for 20 year olds to come of age. This isn't a rebuild.... there will be a literal revolt in Buffalo if they trade pieces like Tuch for futures. This isn't a team that has missed playoffs for 3 or 4 years. This franchise is on the brink of collapse. The season ticket base has been absolutely decimated.

Your thought process is for a normal rebuilding NHL team. Buffalo is not in that position.

You don't have to wait for the 20 somethings. Trade the prospects you guys would get for Tuch or your top 5 pick at the draft

The Sabres could ask for anything

 

[Beerz]

The problem for Buffalo is Tuch isn't the only option. He's just a very good one. Yes. Yes. They don’t want prospects. But if that's all they can get, they can always flip the prospects.

I'm a Lightning fan. Let me regale you in how Rick Dudley (famous in Buffalo) fell back asswards into a Cup contender trading up from a paper clip, chewed gum and cow manure. The Sabres are in a fantastic position to do business with what they have in stock

I honestly hope for the best with them

We have plenty of assets to just do that... we don't need your prospects or picks to accomplish that.

In fact our prospects and picks are much better than anything Tampa can offer and would bring back a better player/players.

 

[Viqsi]

The difference seems to be that Columbus is happy to pay to keep their veterans and Buffalo isn't. We've been infinitely lucky to have our ownership in Columbus.

There is that trend, but that's arguably more of a concern for the next couple years for Sabres fans rather than a deadline issue - or at the soonest, next deadline.

 

[Beerz]

You don't have to wait for the 20 somethings. Trade the prospects you guys would get for Tuch or your top 5 pick at the draft

The Sabres could ask for anything

That is literally what we say during these threads.... we don't need your prospects

 

[Hodge]

I don't know if you have been around the last 14 ish years or not... but the Buffalo Sabres can not afford to wait around for 20 year olds to come of age. This isn't a rebuild.... there will be a literal revolt in Buffalo if they trade pieces like Tuch for futures. This isn't a team that has missed playoffs for 3 or 4 years. This franchise is on the brink of collapse. The season ticket base has been absolutely decimated.

Your thought process is for a normal rebuilding NHL team. Buffalo is not in that position.

I thought everyone understood the Eichel trade combined with other moves around that time like Reinhart for Levi meant Buffalo was rebuilding the rebuild. Everything since 2021 needs to be judged as rebuild 2.0 rather than a continuation of the previous decade.

If Buffalo was capable of signing or trading for stars in their late 20s then the case for keeping Tuch is a lot stronger. Unfortunately it sounds like they tried to do that with Necas and Ehlers but those players didn't want to sign long term contracts. Maybe they'll trade for Pettersson before his NTC kicks in.

 

[majormajor]

I completely agree but that vet doesn't need to be Tuch. It can just as easily be Zucker and/or other UFA signings like him. They'll still be led by Thompson who's also significantly older than a lot of these guys.

Thompson (not a very complete player) and one or two other vets leading like 9 kids is not the right proportion of vets.

It reminds me of what's happening now that the Jackets added Monahan, a bunch of fans are now like, "well we can trade Jenner now, we have more than one veteran". Good teams have a lot of leaders!

In fact our prospects and picks are much better than anything Tampa can offer and would bring back a better player/players.

The Sabres are going to have enough of a challenge finding the right well supported roles to bring Ostlund, Rosen, and Kulich into the lineup. They'll need good offensive ice time and veteran support. What is Tampa going to do to help that? Do any Bolts fans have anything constructive to add there?

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

We have plenty of assets to just do that... we don't need your prospects or picks to accomplish that.

In fact our prospects and picks are much better than anything Tampa can offer and would bring back a better player/players.

I'm not even saying your ask is wrong or unjustified. I'm saying "this is not the time and place"

No one in the history of ever who was trying to win a Cup has traded for a Tuch at the TDL and sacrificed their 2C or top 4D. You would kill your Cup run before it ever got starter. Again, either Adams needs to hang up the phone (and he's not) or he needs to pick a more appropriate time to trade Tuch.

Tell me it makes sense to trade Danny Briere for Simon Gagne in March 2006/2007 and I'll tell you it makes sense to do Cirelli for Tuch in March 2025

If you make that trade, you don't do it right before the damn playoffs


Edit: bad example used to make bigger point. Don't over think it please