The news that Tyler Seguin has suffered a season-ending ACL injury is a gut punch for the Dallas Stars, but in the cruel calculus of the NHL salary cap, it provides a unique opportunity. General Manager Jim Nill now has nearly $10 million in LTIR relief, meaning he can hunt for a replacement without begging another team to retain salary.
Enter Alex Tuch.
The Buffalo Sabres are floundering, and with new GM Jarmo Kekalainen taking the reins this week, the “retool” is officially on. Tuch is a pending UFA, and rumors suggest he wants a massive extension north of $9 million—a number Buffalo simply shouldn’t pay. For Dallas, Tuch isn’t just a rental; he’s a 6-foot-4 power forward who brings the exact blend of speed and heaviness that thrives in the Western Conference playoffs.
But acquiring him won’t be cheap. Here is the reality of the cost.
The Projected Trade Package: What Jim Nill Must Offer Buffalo
Because Dallas has the cap space, this is a pure hockey trade. The Sabres don’t need to take back bad money; they want future assets to build around Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin.
If I’m Jarmo Kekalainen, the conversation starts and ends with Lian Bichsel.
Here is the package that gets it done:
- To Buffalo: 2026 1st Round Pick, D Lian Bichsel, Conditional 2027 3rd Round Pick.
- To Dallas: Alex Tuch.
Why this price? Kekalainen loves big, physical, European defenders. He built a defense in Columbus around similar profiles. Bichsel (6’6″) is the shutdown presence Buffalo’s blueline desperately lacks to complement their offensive stars.
For Dallas, losing a Grade-A prospect like Bichsel hurts, but the championship window is now. Tuch can slide onto a line with Matt Duchene or even play alongside Roope Hintz, creating a nightmare matchup for opponents. With Seguin out, Dallas needs a plug-and-play top-six forward immediately. Tuch fits the system, brings playoff pedigree from his Vegas days, and keeps the Stars in genuine contention for the Cup.
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The post Dallas Stars Trade Rumors: The Heavy Price to Land Alex Tuch from Buffalo appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
