Capitals acquiring Alex Tuch in sign-and-trade with Sabres

Alex Tuch will be reporting somewhere new come September. 

Tuch will sign an eight-year, $84-million contract with Washington, Friedman reported. It is unclear what the Sabres are getting in return.

The addition of Tuch would mark the second major move up front in as many days for the Capitals, who traded for St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou on Tuesday.

Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen indicated earlier Wednesday that Tuch would be moving on. The sign-and-trade represents the second major departure from Buffalo this week after the team sent defenceman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday in a deal for the fourth-overall pick in Friday’s draft.

Tuch, of nearby Syracuse, N.Y., spent the past five seasons with the Sabres, helping the team to its first playoff berth since 2011 this spring. He joined Buffalo ahead of the 2021-22 season as part of the deal that sent former captain Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights. 

The big winger put up 33 goals and 33 assists for the Sabres last season to finish third on the team with 66 points across 79 games.

In 615 career games between the Sabres, Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild, Tuch has 200 goals and 448 points.