The Minnesota Wild may have an ace up its sleeve in the pursuit of a potentially major trade. Minnesota is currently in the middle of a packed Central Division and will be looking to add some firepower via trade in the near future. While there are several ways the Wild can look, one player to keep an eye on is Alex Tuch.
Tuch is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025-26 campaign. Although he still could re-sign with the Buffalo Sabres, contract talks between the two sides have stalled. Buffalo currently sits bottom of the entire Eastern Conference with just 16 points in 18 games.
Assuming the Sabres continue this downward trend, Tuch is likely to be dealt ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. Several teams are likely to be interested in potentially acquiring the star forward. However, The Athletic’s Michael Russo is reporting that the Wild will be in a good position to make a move for Tuch.
In his November 17 column, Russo revealed that the Wild have a great relationship with Tuch’s agents. The Sabres star is being managed by Bartlett Hockey. Along with Tuch, the agency also represents current Wild players such as Matt Boldy and Liam Ohgren.
Minnesota Wild Hopes Alex Tuch Drops Contract Demands
GettyAlex Tuch will be one of the most coveted free agents in 2026.
Having a solid alliance with Tuch’s agent is certainly a positive. After all, negotiations could be a little smoother between the sides. However, there are also other aspects of the potential trade that would have to be ironed out as well.
Outside of satisfying the Sabres, the Wild will have to worry about Tuch’s financial demands as well. Russo pointed this out in the aforementioned article. “I’d be interested in Alex Tuch, assuming his reported $12 million asking price comes down significantly and you knew he’d re-sign,” claimed Russo.
The Wild will perhaps not be willing to give Tuch an AAV of $12 million. Instead, Minnesota is likely looking at a recent agreement between Adrian Kempe and the Los Angeles Kings. Kempe, who was also set for free agency in 2026, signed an eight-year, $85 million ($10.6 million AAV) deal to stay in California on November 16. Tuch and Kempe are seen as somewhat similar players.
Alex Tuch has Previous History with the Minnesota Wild
It remains to be seen if Kempe’s new deal will affect Tuch’s impending contract. Minnesota, and several other interested teams, may view the Kempe situation as groundwork for negotiations with Tuch. Tuch, on the other hand, could be happy that a thin 2026 UFA class just got thinner. Teams may very well get desperate and throw a big bag at the Sabres star in the summer.
As far as this season goes, the Wild have just under $4 million of cap space to work with. Tuch’s current contract earns him an AAV of $4.75 million. Minnesota should be able to put together a trade package that would offset the forward’s current salary fairly easily. Whether or not Tuch is willing to commit to the Wild long-term would be a key piece of the negotiations, though
Tuch was previously drafted by Minnesota in 2014. The forward, however, was ultimately traded to the Las Vegas Golden Knights three years later in a deal involving Erik Haula. Tuch then landed in Buffalo thanks to the blockbuster trade for Jack Eichel in 2021.
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