David Kampf is in the deal: the Buffalo Sabres agreed on Wednesday to send Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade deal. The move sends a 30-year-old forward who had been set to head toward free agency into Washington on an eight-year contract instead.
Tuch was coming off a season with 33 goals and 33 assists, and he had been expected to be the top unrestricted free agent available if he reached July 1. The Sabres first signed him to an eight-year, $84 million contract to make the trade happen, giving him longer term than the seven years available in free agency.
Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals
The deal changes the path for both sides. Washington gets a proven scorer before free agency opens next week, while Buffalo avoids letting him simply walk away without a return. The structure of the transaction mattered: by signing him first and then moving him, the Sabres could extend the contract length beyond the normal free-agency limit.
Washington made the move after acquiring Jordan Kyrou from St. Louis in a separate deal, a second major addition in as many days. That puts the Capitals in the middle of an active stretch as the draft approaches on Friday and more movement is expected before free agency.
Jarmo Kekalainen on talks
Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen said there had been no progress in contract talks with Tuch. That left the Sabres with two paths: risk the market opening on July 1, or complete a sign-and-trade and lock in the return on their timeline.
The missing piece is what Washington sent back to Buffalo. The transaction is complete on Tuch’s side, but the return has not been detailed, leaving the final trade ledger open even as the player movement is settled.
July 1 and beyond
The practical effect for Buffalo is that the team turned a likely free-agent exit into a controlled trade outcome. For Washington, the cost is not public in the available details, but the club added a 30-year-old forward with 33 goals and 33 assists under an eight-year deal ahead of the market opening.
