Sabres have plenty of work ahead of them — The Fourth Period

With Jarmo Kekalainen now at the helm, the Buffalo Sabres are eager to right the ship – while at the same time understanding that multiple moves are needed in order to point this club in the right direction.

Kekalainen addressed a number of topics in his introductory press conference Tuesday, including winger Alex Tuch, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

“Alex is a really good hockey player. We appreciate him, we like him, we want to get him signed,” Kekalainen said. “I think that’s been clear the whole time. Now, we just have to agree on a number that works for both sides.”

Over the weekend, prior to the GM change in Buffalo, sources told TFP that things remained “status quo” between the Sabres and Tuch’s camp and the two sides remained quite apart on a deal. With Kekalainen now in charge, talks are expected to resume in earnest.

Tuch is believed to be looking for between $10 million and $11 million per season on a long-term deal and could command that in the open market given the shallow pool of top forwards come July.

In net, the Sabres have three goaltenders, and Kekalainen plans on reducing that to two once Colten Ellis comes off the IR, admitting “it’s not the ideal situation to have three” goalies.

“We’re probably to a point where we’re going to have to start making decisions to get down to a two-goalie rotation,” he said.

As the Sabres aim to evaluate every aspect of their organization, including the future of the coaching staff and Head Coach Lindy Ruff, roster changes seem to be expected first.

If Kekalainen determines he is unable to get Tuch locked into a new deal, he will explore trading him later in the season, and several teams will come calling, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and others.

Tuch, 29, owns a five-team no-trade list as part of his contract.

Teams, with the Edmonton Oilers being one of them, have spoken with the Sabres about goalie Alex Lyon prior to the GM change and will surely reach back out now.

It is too early to determine how bold Kekalainen will get in restructuring his roster. Defencemen Bowen Byram and Owen Power have been the subject of trade speculation going back to last season, while forwards Jordan Greenway, Payton Krebs and Jack Quinn have also seen their names circulate through the rumour mill.

Changes are coming in Buffalo, and rightfully so. The extent of the changes are now up to Kekalainen, who is not expected to lay back and take his time.

The Sabres currently sit last in the Eastern Conference with a 14-14-4 record and 32 points.