It has been a blazing start to Alex Tuch's career with the Buffalo Sabres.
Since making his debut with the team on Dec. 29, the 25-year-old has produced very well with 19 points (7+12) in 16 games. Not only has Tuch already become a top forward for a young Sabres team, but he has also become a leader of the group since Day 1.
Tuch was a key piece of the return in the Jack Eichel trade with the Vegas Golden Knights back on Nov. 4, along with Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first round pick and a second round pick in 2023.
The Syracuse native has already found instant chemistry playing on a line with Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson. While their production over this past stretch of games is nice to see, Tuch doesn’t see the numbers they've been putting up as a major story.
“We haven't been too concerned about points," Tuch said on Thursday during an appearance on the "Howard and Jeremy Show" on WGR. "We are just trying to go in and compete day-in and day-out, and try to be the best the three of us can be. We’ve been able to build some chemistry in these last five or six games, but also being healthy has helped.”
Tuch also credits the versatility of his linemates being a huge help with developing team chemistry.
Despite being from Syracuse and growing up rooting for the Sabres, Tuch joins a Buffalo team that has struggled mightily over the last several years, not having been to the playoffs since the 2010-11 season. This after playing for a winning organization like the Golden Knights, who have made the playoffs in each of the first four years of its existence.
Although there will be plenty of growing pains as this team in Buffalo develops into a successful group on and off the ice, Tuch says making the transition to the Sabres is not something that thinks about too much.
“It’s not that hard to embrace being a Buffalo Sabre,” he said with Howard Simon and Jeremy White.
You can listen to the entire interview during the "Howard and Jeremy Show" below:
