Sabres Gamble on Tuch as Trocheck Tops Trade Buzz

The Buffalo Sabres stare down a high-stakes contract standoff with Alex Tuch, their pending UFA winger who's digging in for over $10 million a season while the team eyes a playoff push after 14 barren years. New GM Jarmo Kekalainen keeps lines open amid the Olympic break, but insiders whisper Buffalo treats Tuch like an own rental - ride him to the postseason, then brace for free agency chaos.