The Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension before the start of the 2025-26 season, and now the impending free-agent winger is starting to receive a lot of criticism about his sluggish on-ice performance.
Mike Cranwell of The Fourth Period explained the Sabres' 3-4-0 start isn't a shock, especially given the team's run of injuries, but noted that doesn't alter the big-picture view of the organization amid its NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.
"From a macro perspective, with the fans chanting 'Fire Kevyn' [Adams] and players either looking disengaged or too angry this early in the season (I'm looking at you, Alex Tuch), something's got to give," Cranwell wrote.