Tuch gets 7-year deal to remain a Knight

$33.25M extension runs through 2025-26

The Golden Knights went through a protracted contract negotiation with one restricted free agent this summer.

They avoided a potentially similar situation with Alex Tuch.

The team announced a seven-year, $33.25 million contract extension for the 22-year-old right wing on Friday that locks up Tuch through the 202526 season.

“(I) couldn’t be any more excited,” Tuch said in a video posted to the Knights’ official Twitter account. “Really pumped to be part of such an amazing club for the next eight years. It’s going to be an unbelievable experience, and hopefully we get a lot of wins in front of you guys at the fortress.”

Tuch is in the final year of his en

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try-level contract and would have become a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights after this season.

Defenseman Shea Theodore, who is Tuch’s housemate,alsowasarfawith no arbitration rights and missed the first 10 days of training camp before he signed a seven-year, $36.4 million extension on Sept. 24.

Toronto winger William Nylander has not played this season as he negotiates a new contract. Nylander is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights, too.

Knights general manager George Mcphee was not available for comment Friday.

“I think probably it was in the back of everyone’s mind, but it wasn’t overtly discussed,” said Brian Bartlett, Tuch’s agent with Sports Consulting Group. “There isn’t a great mechanism to resolve that if you can’t come to terms right away.

“Butidon’tthinkitwas a driving force. It was more looking at is there a number andtermtogetalextuch security and locked in at an (average annual value) and a number the team can plan around.”

Bartlett said the Knights approached him and Tuch about a long-term extension inrecentweeksandadeal wasfinalizedoverthepast 10 days.

Tuch’sextensionisstructured similar to Theodore’s with a flat annual salary of $4.75 million, which provides Mcphee more cost certainty for the future. It includes a five-team no-trade clause in the final two years of the deal.

Tuchhasa$925,000salary caphitthisseason.

The Knights have 15 players under contract for the 2019-20 season and are projected to have $13.25 million of cap space based on the current salary cap.

“Admittedly, for us, he is overpaid the next couple ofyears,”bartlettsaid.“but based on all the expectations we have for Alex, we’re hoping he’s underpaid in the last few years.”

Tuch suffered a lower-body injury in the final preseason game against San Joseonsept.30andhasyet to play in the regular season.