BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said after a Sportsnet story recently reported teams had called to ask about Alex Tuch’s availability prior to Friday’s trade deadline, he reassured the winger he had no plans to deal him.
“I’m not trading Alex Tuch,” Adams said Friday in KeyBank Center. “That is not something we had any interest in doing. He’s a key piece of the puzzle for us, and I grabbed him the next day and said, ‘I don’t know if you pay attention or you read things, but no interest trading you.’”
Adams, of course, listens when other GMs call. He said after the story was published, other teams contacted him.
“I said, ‘Appreciate the phone call, not a guy we’re looking to trade,’” he said. “And in saying that, my job, especially where were are in the standings, I have to be open and listening to everything and anything. So my job is to take calls and listen, but not a guy that in any way, shape or form are we looking to do anything with.”
Tuch has endured a disappointing season by his standards, scoring 17 goals and 40 points in 58 games. He enjoyed a career year last season, registering 36 goals and 79 points in 74 contests.
The Baldwinsville native scored the shootout winner in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Trading Tuch would have destroyed this team. He should be the Captain moving forward. He’s a great leader and an excellent 2-way player. Tuch is vital to this team.