Maple Leafs' solution to Mitch Marner problem should be Sabres player demanding $11M

The Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking to add a power forward to reinforce their top six since the departure of Mitch Marner, who landed with the Vegas Golden Knights.

There might be a good free-agency opportunity for Toronto to fill this void next year. According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, extending Alex Tuch's contract could be very expensive for the Buffalo Sabres.

"He’s thinking, if this team isn’t going to start trending in the right direction in the very near future, I might as well take my game to July one and cash in big time. Like I’ve talked to a few teams in the last 24 hours that think it’s not just a $10 million AAV for him to stay. You’re probably looking at north of 11 (million)," Pagnotta said on "The Street with Jeff Marek" podcast.

Tuch, 29, who has accumulated an estimated total of $36 million throughout his career (currently in the last year of his contract with a cap hit of $4.75 million), would be a great addition for the Maple Leafs.

How Alex Tuch would fit into the Maple Leafs' system

Tuch would be a good fit for Craig Berube's system, mainly due to his physique, speed in transition, pressure on the first wave of the forecheck and ability to drive to the net to finish.

The Syracuse native is a versatile forward, capable of playing as a right wing or center. At five-on-five, he can occupy the RW on a top line alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, providing puck recovery and arrival to the slot. This would free up Matthews from loads on the initial forecheck.

On the power play, Tuch could offer net-front/bumper due to his size and short-range touch. On the penalty kill, his reach and ability to read the play could allow him to pressure the puck up high and be a short-handed threat.

The 29-year-old forward would not arrive to monopolize the puck as a primary playmaker. His recent performance (36 goals last season) suggests a solid percentage of goals per 60 minutes (G/60). A player profile that Berube prioritizes.

Since Marner's departure, a void was left in playmaking at RW. Although Tuch does not fit perfectly into that mold, he elevates the forecheck identity and physical weight of the first and second trios, which balances the top six towards a model more similar to what the coach expects.

The offensive style could be reoriented toward recoveries and direct attacks, with William Nylander and John Tavares absorbing part of the playmaking load.

Furthermore, the potential arrival of Tuch would not spoil the progress of prospect Easton Cowan. The current Sabres player would provide immediacy, while Cowan, 20, could continue growing in protected roles.