The New York Rangers may look to the trade market for offensive help as they navigate a disappointing 2025-2026 season. New York is averaging just 2.55 goals per game, the lowest in the Eastern Conference, and is currently out of the playoffs. Complicating matters further is that Artemi Panarin is approaching unrestricted free agency, while Vincent Trocheck has also surfaced in trade speculation.
According to league insiders, Buffalo Sabers forward Alex Tuch could be a potential target. Heavy.com quotes Chris Johnston of The Athletic: to write:
“Johnston now predicts that New York will land Buffalo Sabers star Alex Tuch before the trade deadline. The forward, like Panarin, will become a free agent in the summer and extension talks have cooled. As a result, Tuch will likely be one of the most sought-after players on the trade market.”
Tuch has produced consistently and has already reached the 35-goal mark twice in recent seasons. There is speculation that he is looking for more than $10 million per season on a long-term extension, which may be too rich for the Sabres. However, New York could be open to a major problem if it were to lose some of its top contracts with higher salaries. Tuch’s future in Buffalo remains uncertain despite a change in the front office and the Sabres’ recent rise in the standings.
What’s interesting is that Buffalo is now on a 10-game winning streak. They are very much in the mix again for a playoff spot and if they remain in the playoff bubble, there is no reason to justify trading Tuch. New York could explore a sign-and-trade scenario to secure Tuch long-term, which would mean the Sabers are either out of contention or New York trades back pieces that could help Buffalo stay competitive.
For the Rangers, adding Tuch would address their scoring issues and help mitigate the potential loss of Panarin, giving the club a proven top-age attacking replacement.
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