- Alex Tuch faces the Sabres for the first time Saturday
- He leads the Capitals with five goals after the sign-and-trade
- Read below for his full comments on the reunion
Alex Tuch is looking forward to facing his old team, and he isn’t hiding it.
The Capitals forward was asked Friday about playing the Buffalo Sabres for the first time since the offseason sign-and-trade that sent him to Washington. The game is Saturday night at Capital One Arena (7 p.m. ET).
“I just have a big dumb smile on my face just thinking about playing against those guys,” Tuch said. “Love them to death and miss them, but really happy where I am right now.”
Watch Tuch explain it in the Capitals’ clip:
Tuch spent five seasons in Buffalo, a team he grew up rooting for in Syracuse. He put up 309 points in 360 games there and helped the Sabres end their 14-year playoff drought last season. Buffalo went out in Game 7 of the second round against Montreal.
The two sides never agreed on a new deal, so the Sabres worked out a sign-and-trade on June 24. Tuch signed an eight-year, $84 million contract, and Buffalo got a 2027 third-round pick and the rights to forward David Kampf.
Here’s the Capitals’ preview of the matchup, which notes it falls on the four-month anniversary of the trade:
Tuch has been everything Washington hoped for. He leads the team with five goals and has seven points in nine games, including two goals in his Capitals debut. The Capitals asked him to move from right wing to the left side, and he leads their forwards at 18:48 of ice time per game.
Tuch said he planned to catch up with his former teammates over dinner Friday before trying to beat them. He also knows how well they know each other.
“I’ve gone in corners with those guys in practice so many times it’s going to feel normal,” Tuch said. “I’m waiting to see who’s the first one that’s going to give me a little cheap shot. My money’s on ‘Benny,’ but, no, it’ll be good.”
That’s forward Zach Benson, for the record. Washington (5-4-0) also visits Buffalo on March 18, when Tuch expects the emotion to run even higher.
