Sabres Weekly: Tuch Will Test Free Agency, Combine Wraps Up & More

Here is the Buffalo Sabres weekly news, rumors and reports for the week of June 8-14, 2026.

Alex Tuch Most Likely To Test Free Agency

Free agency is just a little over three weeks away, and from what it sounds like, it’s becoming more likely that Alex Tuch will end up walking to free agency and testing the market.

On Friday, Darren Dreger of TSN was on First Up and spoke on the matter, stating, “It sure sounds, fellas, like there isn’t progress being made between Buffalo and Alex Tuch. I am hearing that Tuch is likely going to free agency, but that isn’t breaking news.”

Tuch (30) is coming off a season where he was a vital part in helping the Sabres nearly reach their first Eastern Conference Final berth since 2006. He recorded 66 points (33 goals, 33 assists) in 79 games.

Tuch has been one of the biggest contributors since being traded to Buffalo in 2021 as part of the Jack Eichel trade, as he’s recorded three 60-plus point seasons, which includes a 79-point campaign. The lone season he failed to get to 60 points, he had 59.

2026 NHL Draft Combine Concludes

The 2026 NHL Scouting Combine took place from May 31 through June 6, and now teams and prospects turn their focus to the NHL Entry Draft.

Some prospects impressed while others did not. To no one’s surprise, projected first-overall pick Gavin McKenna put up the best numbers. This author even had the chance to cover the combine for The Hockey Writers and asked some of the players for one piece of advice they’d give younger players who want to be in their shoes. They all gave a variation of the same answer: Ignore what everyone else thinks; what matters is what you think.

Gerry Meehan, Former Sabres Captain & GM Passes Away at 79

Gerry Meehan, former Sabres captain and general manager (GM), passed away Friday at the age of 79. He was selected by the Sabres in the 1970 Expansion Draft and had the first assist in Sabres history. In 1971, he was selected as the franchise’s second captain, a position he served in until his departure from the team in 1974.

Meehan replaced Scotty Bowman as the franchise’s fourth GM in 1986 and made some of the most impactful transactions in franchise history, including trading for Dominik Hasek, Pat Lafontaine, Dale Hawerchuk, and drafting Alexander Mogilny.