Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR) - After practice on Friday, the Buffalo Sabres headed to Washington to play the Capitals on Saturday. It’ll be the first time they play against Alex Tuch since he couldn’t come to terms on a contract with the Sabres and was traded to the Caps.
Tuch has left a huge hole in the Sabres lineup that they haven’t even come close to filling. There are things he did on the ice and in the room that nobody else in the organization can do. Tuch had many friends in the locker-room and will be headed to dinner with them Friday night.
Tage Thompson was neighbors with the winger and he told me recently that Tuch was a better neighbor than teammate,
“He’s such a good human being and their family is awesome, we all loved him and he definitely did a lot for me around the neighborhood taking my trash out, bringing the bins in, so he’s a good dude and we all miss him.”
It wasn’t just that. Thompson said there was so much more,
“On and off the ice he was such a good leader, just a veteran presence in the room and he enjoy having fun with the guys and just hanging out and on the ice his play dictated a lot just the way he played, so he definitely was a huge piece for us.”
Peyton Krebs has been teammates with him longer than any other Sabre because they were in Vegas together and were both part of the Jack Eichel trade. He fondly remembered the neighbor part of it too,
“He’s one of those guys that you ask to do anything anytime and he’s right over there doing it, so, if you needed some cheese, you just knock over there he’ll get you some cheese or whatever you needed that day.”
Krebs said there was a real bond there,
“Tuchy is one of my best friends I’ve had in hockey, a guy that I’ve grown with and eight years ago when we first met, I’m a whole different person now and he’s really helped me navigate to play in the NHL, and becoming a man.
“It’s definitely going to be weird seeing him in different colors and first time playing against each other, and with being a good friend you never want to lose against him, so we’re going to take it to him.”
Krebs remembered high sticking Tuch in practice getting him really mad at him. He said,
“I’m not going to high stick him, but I’m definitely going to throw the body on him and let him have it.”
Krebs said he’ll be ‘chirping’ him for sure.
Lindy Ruff of course would love for Tuch to still be part of the team, but he doesn’t control any of that and it’s not his job. As far as facing him the head coach said,
“He was real good for us and it’s going to be strange now to coach against him and see him out there. He’s off to a good start and I’m sure playing against your former team, you always want to play really well. He was a big part of our year last year so for some guys it’ll seem a little awkward at times.”
The Winnipeg Jets finally traded Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils ending all the wild speculation involving the Sabres. Ruff said,
“I don’t spend a lot of time with the noise, and it’s just part of the business. There’s time I’ve talked about noise, you can’t really control any of that.”
Jiri Kulich was cut pretty badly in practice when he got hit in the face with a puck. Ruff said he was still being checked out.
FRIDAY’S LINES:
Zucker - Thompson - Helenius
Benson - Ostlund - Quinn
Norris - McLeod - Doan
Krebs - Kozak - Malenstyn
Dahlin - Samuelsson
Zellweger - Power
Metsa (Gilbert) - Crevier
Both feel it'll be weird playing against him
Both feel it'll be weird playing against him
