Alex Tuch
Tuch in 2023
Born (1996-05-10) May 10, 1996
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Buffalo Sabres
Minnesota Wild
Vegas Golden Knights
National team  United States
NHL Draft 18th overall, 2014
Minnesota Wild
Playing career 2016–present

Alex Daniel Tuch (/ˈtʌk/ TUHK;[1] born May 10, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, 18th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Youth and college

As a youth, Tuch played in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Lemieux Academy minor ice hockey team from Phoenix, Arizona.[2] Tuch was ranked 12th by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau on their final list of the top draft-eligible North American skaters leading into the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, where he was projected to be selected in the first round.[3][4] Tuch was eventually selected by the Minnesota Wild as the draft's 18th overall pick.

Tuch trained with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team from 2012 to 2014, winning a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and gold at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships.

From 2014 to 2016, Tuch played college hockey for Boston College in the Hockey East Association. He was named to the 2014–15 Hockey East Association Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team,[5] tallying 14 goals and 14 assists his freshman year. In 2015–16, he contributed with 18 goals and 16 assists in 40 games, while heading to the NCAA Frozen Four with the Eagles.[6]

Minnesota Wild

On April 13, 2016, Tuch signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild to begin his professional career.[7] In his rookie professional season, after attending the Wild's training camp, he was reassigned to the club's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild, for the 2016–17 season.[8] Tuch provided a power-forward presence for Iowa, recording 18 goals and 37 points in 57 games. In the second half of the season, he received his first recall to Minnesota and made his NHL debut on February 4, 2017, against the Vancouver Canucks.[9] That season, he appeared in six NHL games with the Wild, but did not score a goal.

Vegas Golden Knights

On June 21, 2017, Tuch was traded to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights as part of an agreement with Vegas that the team would select Erik Haula in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.[10] On October 3, 2017, Tuch was assigned to the AHL's Chicago Wolves to begin the 2017–18 season.[11] He was recalled from the Wolves on October 15,[12] and he scored his first NHL goal against Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins that night.[13] Tuch went on with Vegas to the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals, where they eventually lost in five games to the Washington Capitals.

On October 19, 2018, the Golden Knights signed Tuch to a seven-year, $33.25 million contract extension.[14]

In July 2021, Tuch underwent off-season shoulder surgery, which would prevent him from playing the majority of the 2021–22 NHL season[15][16]

Buffalo Sabres

On November 4, 2021, Tuch was traded by the Golden Knights along with Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round draft pick, and a 2023 second-round draft pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Jack Eichel and a 2023 third-round draft pick.[17] Eichel, the former 2015 second overall draft pick, had been enmeshed in an acrimonious dispute with the Sabres for some time prior to the trade.[18] Tuch, a Sabres fan as a child, expressed enthusiasm about joining the team.[19] He made his debut in a December 29, 2021 loss to the New Jersey Devils, recording an assist.[20] His first goal as a member of the Sabres came in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on January 1, 2022. [21]

He soon became a fan favorite in Buffalo, with many citing him as a natural choice to the take up the team captaincy previously stripped from Eichel.[22][23] A notable game came on March 10, 2022, when Eichel made his first appearance in Buffalo against the Golden Knights, culminating in Tuch stealing the puck from Eichel in the final minute to bury it in the empty net, resulting in a 3–1 Sabres victory.[24]

On October 20, 2022, Tuch scored his first career hat-trick in a 6–3 win over the Calgary Flames.[25] He would score his second hat-trick of the season on April 1, 2023, capping it off with a shorthanded goal in another 6–3 win versus the Philadelphia Flyers. [26] Tuch's 2022–23 campaign marked career highs in goals, assists, and points, finding offensive success in his second season playing alongside Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner. [27]

Personal life

Tuch was born to Carl and Sharon[28] in Syracuse, New York. He grew up in Baldwinsville, New York. Tuch is of Slovak ancestry through his great grandmother.[29] Tuch has a younger brother and sister who are twins; Luke was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens and plays hockey for Boston University, and Leah plays field hockey.[30] Tuch grew up as a fan of the Buffalo Sabres.[31]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 Syracuse Jr. Stars EmJHL 40 44 57 101 26 4 1 3 4 4
2012–13 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 38 4 6 10 24 — — — — —
2012–13 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 56 11 15 26 32 — — — — —
2013–14 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 26 13 19 32 36 — — — — —
2013–14 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 61 29 35 64 70 — — — — —
2014–15 Boston College HE 37 14 14 28 28 — — — — —
2015–16 Boston College HE 40 18 16 34 33 — — — — —
2016–17 Iowa Wild AHL 57 18 19 37 28 — — — — —
2016–17 Minnesota Wild NHL 6 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Chicago Wolves AHL 3 4 1 5 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 78 15 22 37 27 20 6 4 10 12
2018–19 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 74 20 32 52 8 7 1 1 2 8
2019–20 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 42 8 9 17 8 20 8 4 12 8
2020–21 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 55 18 15 33 28 19 4 5 9 6
2021–22 Buffalo Sabres NHL 50 12 26 38 14 — — — — —
2022–23 Buffalo Sabres NHL 74 36 43 79 20 — — — — —
NHL totals 379 109 147 256 105 66 19 14 33 34

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2013 United States U17 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 1 3 4 4
2014 United States U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 0 3 3 14
2015 United States WJC 5th 5 1 1 2 0
2023 United States WC 4th 10 5 3 8 4
Junior totals 18 2 7 9 18
Junior totals 10 5 3 8 4

Awards and honors

Honors Year
World U-17 Hockey Challenge bronze medal 2013 [32]
IIHF World U18 Championship gold medal 2014 [33]

References

  1. ↑ "Wild Signs Alex Tuch To Entry-Level Contract," Minnesota Wild, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2021
  2. ↑ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Baldwinsville's Alex Tuch moves up in rankings of NHL draft prospects". Syracuse.com. April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ "2014 NHL Draft Profile: Alex Tuch". On the Forecheck. April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  5. ↑ "HockeyEastOnline.com – Hockey East Announces 2014–15 Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team". hockeyeastonline.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Baldwinsville's Alex Tuch signs pro pact with Minnesota Wild". syracuse.com. April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Wild Signs Alex Tuch To Entry-Level Contract". Minnesota Wild. April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  8. ↑ Mizutani, Dane (October 5, 2016). "Bruce Boudreau on Wild roster cuts: 'The jobs were there to be had'". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Alex Tuch to make NHL debut for Wild on Saturday". NHL.com. February 2, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  10. ↑ "It's official: Vegas inks Haula from Wild in expansion draft". Minnesota Star Tribune. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  11. ↑ "SHIPACHYOV, THEODORE, TUCH SET TO JOIN WOLVES". chicagowolves.com. October 3, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Tuch, Lagace Recalled From Chicago Wolves". NHL.com. October 15, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Tuch, Shipachyov shine in debuts as Vegas beats Bruins". sportsnet.ca. October 15, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Vegas Golden Knights Sign Forward Alex Tuch To Seven-Year Extension". Vegas Golden Knights. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Short-handed Vegas Golden Knights lose Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone to injury after 1-1 start". ESPN. October 16, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Golden Knights' Alex Tuch: Out six months after surgery". CBSSports. July 30, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  17. ↑ LaBarber, Jourdon (November 4, 2021). "Sabres acquire Krebs, Tuch, picks in trade with Vegas for Eichel". NHL.com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Sabres trade Eichel to Golden Knights after long dispute". The Sports Network. November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  19. ↑ Lysowski, Lance (December 16, 2021). "Alex Tuch bubbling with excitement ahead of long-awaited Sabres debut". The Buffalo News.
  20. ↑ Hoppe, Bill (December 30, 2021). "Alex Tuch's debut sign of brighter times ahead for Sabres". buffalohockeybeat.com.
  21. ↑ "At The Final Horn | Tuch scores 1st with Sabres in OT loss to Boston". NHL.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  22. ↑ Seltenrich, Brandon (February 23, 2022). "Sabres' Tuch Taking Sting Out of Eichel Trade". thehockeywriters.com.
  23. ↑ Stephens, Mike (March 2, 2022). "Alex Tuch arrived exactly when Buffalo needed him". thehockeynews.com.
  24. ↑ Vogl, John (March 11, 2021). "'It was electric': Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs and Sabres get best of Jack Eichel and Golden Knights". The Athletic.
  25. ↑ "Alex Tuch has 1st NHL hat trick, Sabres beat Flames 6-3". ESPN. October 20, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Sabres vs. Flyers - NHL Game Summary - April 1, 2023". ESPN. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Alex Tuch Stats and News". NHL.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Alex Tuch". bceagles.com. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  29. ↑ "US hockey star has roots in Slovakia". spectator.sme.sk. May 17, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  30. ↑ Nicole Del Villano (January 31, 2018). "Luke Tuch Commits To Boston University". buffalojuniorsabres.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  31. ↑ Lomon, Chris. "Longtime Sabres Fan Alex Tuch Thrilled to Wear the Blue and Gold". NHLPA. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  32. ↑ "U.S. National U-17 Team upends Slovakia, 7–2, at 2013 World Hockey Challenge". boxscorenews.com. May 1, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Gold-Medal Game Recap: USA Wins Gold Over Czech Republic". USA Hockey. April 2, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
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