“Aren’t in the same ballpark” That’s the line echoing across Buffalo today, and it captures exactly where things are between the Sabres and their star winger Alex Tuch as extension conversations drag on. Multiple reports indicate both sides want a deal, but the gap in dollars and term is still wide enough to skate a Zamboni through. Insiders suggest Tuch’s camp views a double-digit average annual value as realistic in a rising-cap world, while the Sabres haven’t met those expectations yet. In short, they aren’t in the same ballpark—not yet, anyway.
Why the price is climbing in a rising-cap NHL
The cap is moving north, and with it, elite wingers’ paydays. Recent comparable deals—plus a sign-and-trade megadeal elsewhere for a superstar—have pushed the market higher and given top six forwards new leverage. That context explains why one side believes a number beginning with a one and a zero per year is fair. Again, the two sides aren’t in the same ballpark, but the league’s economics are a big reason why the ask is where it is.
The player and the city: why Buffalo wants this done
This isn’t a typical negotiation where a player is lukewarm on the market. Tuch is a Western New York native who has repeatedly said he loves being here and would like to stay long term. That bond with the city matters—on the ice, in the room, and in the stands. It’s precisely why the headline aren’t in the same ballpark feels so jarring to fans. They know the fit is real; now they’re waiting for the numbers to match the feelings.
Production that demands respect
Since arriving in the Eichel trade, Tuch has evolved into a consistent, high-impact winger: driving play, finishing chances, and elevating linemates. Last season alone he piled up 36 goals and 31 assists in 82 games—numbers that set the table for a premium ask. When a player performs like that, even a hometown favourite won’t leave money on the table. The Sabres get it; they just aren’t in the same ballpark on valuation yet.
The sticking point: value today vs. value tomorrow
Here’s the honest tension. Buffalo must balance today’s sticker shock with tomorrow’s savings. If the cap keeps climbing, a contract that looks rich in Year 1 can look team-friendly by Year 4. That’s why Tuch’s side is pushing for a number that projects well into the middle years, while the Sabres try to protect flexibility for a core that includes young stars who will need their own raises. It’s classic roster-building chess, and for now, both sides aren’t in the same ballpark on where that line lands.
Market pressure and the waiting game
There’s another wrinkle: a cluster of top-tier names around the league are also hovering near the negotiation table. Agents and teams are eyeing each other, waiting for the first domino to fall and set a true market line. Until that happens, patience—and a bit of posturing—tends to rule the day. That’s a big reason this feels stalled, and why the phrase aren’t in the same ballpark keeps popping up in reports.
The comps the front office can’t ignore
Front offices live in comparables. Look at recent winger deals and you see a spread: high-end UFAs landing hefty AAVs, and elite talents locking in long-term security via sign-and-trade or extension frameworks. In that landscape, a powerful, two-way, top-line winger with size and finishing touch commands attention—and dollars. The Sabres will point to internal salary hierarchy; Tuch’s camp will point to leaguewide comps. Until those arguments intersect, they simply aren’t in the same ballpark.
What we’re hearing, straight up
The most consistent thread from reputable outlets this week is simple: there’s mutual interest, but “not close.” One insider even spelled out that both sides have talked “numerous” times, yet the gap remains, with Tuch’s camp eyeing that double-digit zone in a cap that keeps rising. That’s the crux of the aren’t in the same ballpark chatter flooding your timeline.
Why a deal still feels likely
Here’s the part Sabres fans should hold onto. Despite the current gap, there’s no hint of bad blood. The team wants the player. The player wants the city. Training camp and early-season form can nudge talks along, and sometimes a single comparable elsewhere cracks the stalemate. The most plausible scenario? Both sides inch toward each other as the season unfolds, and that aren’t in the same ballpark headline ages into a “finally found common ground” update.
The risk of waiting too long
There is risk in delay. If Tuch rolls out of the gate hot, his ask gets stronger. If the team sputters, the narrative shifts and pressure builds. And if July creeps closer without progress, leverage tilts toward the open market. That’s not doomsday—it’s leverage 101. It’s exactly why today they aren’t in the same ballpark, but tomorrow the clock may push both benches toward a handshake.
Big-picture takeaway for Buffalo
Buffalo’s front office has spent years building a core worth believing in. Locking in a leader who scores, forechecks, kills penalties, and loves the crest sends a message to the room and the league. It tells everyone—veterans, prospects, free agents—that the plan is real. Right now, they aren’t in the same ballpark on the math. The moment that changes, the hockey part becomes easy.
Where it goes from here
Expect more conversations, more quiet weeks, and then—often suddenly—movement. That’s how these things go when both sides are motivated. For the Sabres, it’s about threading the needle between cap discipline and locking in a foundational winger. For Tuch, it’s about honoring his value in a league that’s paying play-drivers at a premium. Until the numbers line up, we’ll keep hearing they Aren’t in the same ballpark. But if you’re betting on an ending, bet on Buffalo and its star winger finding a way to meet at home plate
