8 Updated on Chart Below. 3 Added

The rumor mill is starting to tighten…and focus

With the Sabres improved play, the future was a bit uncertain…Of course Alex wants to stay and could return to Buffalo after being a rental I am told…

Sources are telling me the Flyers(e3), Rangers(e4), and Utah Mammoth(e3) are all doing homework here. Philadelphia makes a ton of sense… they’re looking for size, speed, and playoff-style edge, and Tuch checks every box. The Rangers are always lurking in these types of deals, especially for players with physicality…however they would likely demand an extension. Utah is the wild card… but they’ve shown a willingness to get aggressive when they believe a player fits their long-term core build. This feels like one of those situations where Buffalo isn’t shopping him … but teams are calling anyway.

Meanwhile in Calgary… the Nazem Kadri market has shifted dramatically.

What was once viewed as a complicated contract situation has suddenly turned into a real two-team race. Toronto and Montreal are both pushing… and pushing hard….Toronto sees Kadri as a solid, albeit somewhat ironic fit, a playoff-style center, and a familiar face who knows the market and pressure. Montreal sees him as a tone-setter… a leadership piece for a young roster that’s ready to turn the corner competitively. The internal belief around the league is this isn’t just interest anymore… it’s positioning. This is turning into a leverage battle, not a tire-kicking exercise.

This one is flying under the radar publicly, but not inside front offices. Philadelphia, Carolina, Anaheim, and Utah are all tracking him closely. Teams see this as a classic “value window” opportunity… where development hasn’t fully matched pedigree yet, but the upside still screams top-six NHL center. Carolina in particular is known for these kinds of patient, calculated bets. Philly’s interest aligns with their long-term center depth planning. Anaheim and Utah both view him as a timeline fit with their rebuild arcs.

This market is volatile… and fluid… and changing by minute

Dallas, the Islanders, and Colorado are all in the mix, with a light but real possibility of Toronto being involved. Dallas likes the playoff profile. The Islanders see him as a scoring-and-physicality injection. Colorado views him as a depth weapon for another run. Toronto remains more of a situational option than a primary lane… but the door isn’t closed.

This one feels like it will come down to timing and retention… the interest is real