MEET THE MAYOR
An explosive postseason vaulted Vegas forward Alex Tuch into the hobby spotlight. What he does in 2020-21 will derermine whether he remains there.
This time, it was the scout asking the question. “How many power forwards are there (in the NHL) today? (Tom) Wilson and (Alex) Ovechkin. e Tkachuk brothers (Matthew and Brady).”
He paused.
“Beyond that, you’ve got some borderline guys,” he said. “But Alex Tuch is right there. e tools are there. He plays a man’s game.”
at assessment came up in the wake of an eye-catching postseason performance that saw the 6-foot-4 Vegas Golden Knights winger score eight goals in 20 contests.
ree of those were game winners, and more than a few were the result of a big man doing big man things. ings like dominating his puck battles. ings like shrugging o defenders to gain space down low to bang home rebounds. ings like blowing by a blueliner before ri ing a heavy shot from the hash marks.
Truth is, there really aren’t many players who can do what Alex Tuch does.
“He’s so important to our team,” said Paul Stastny, Tuch’s former linemate who has since been dealt to Winnipeg. “He’s kind of like an X-factor, or wild card, because he brings so many di erent elements to the game. His speed is dynamic and it opens up room and creates time for his (center). When you can spread the ice like that it, I think it gives everyone else more time, and what that does is it creates more chances for the line.”
ere’s also a nasty edge to his game that all the best power forwards have, the kind that buys him some space to operate and makes him the target of vitriol from opposing fans. Dallas Stars supporters, for instance, are still bitter about the uncalled slew foot that took down Tyler Seguin in Game 3 of the conference nal, and the big hit away from the puck that sent Corey Perry into concussion protocol in Game 4.
“Even when he’s not scoring, he lets you know he’s out there,” the scout said.
While that was apparent in the playo s, it wasn’t always the case during the regular season. Tuch was widely viewed as a potential breakout star coming into the year a er scoring 52 points in 2018-19. But he was injured twice in the early going, and never seemed to get his game on track. He ended up posting just 17 points in 42 games.
“It’s been a frustrating year,” he said.
Tuch was a di erent player when he arrived at the bubble. Fully healthy and 10 pounds lighter, he was ready to deliver on the promise that led Minnesota to make him a rst rounder (18th overall) in the 2014 dra .
at he ended up going to Vegas just three years later has to be galling to Wild fans. Facing protection issues at the 2017 expansion dra , the team traded Tuch for a third rounder so Golden Knights GM George McPhee would keep his hands o defensemen Matt Dumba and Marco Scandella and center Eric Staal. ere was real concern that Vegas would select one of those players, so they had to pay up to protect the assets they deemed most important. ree years later, they’re still feeling the pain while Vegas enjoys his services.
is season aside, he’s been a perfect t for the Knights. eir team is built around generating o ense o the rush. ey created 457 scoring chances that way this season, third best in the league according to thepointhockey.com. Tuch is one of the key drivers of that style.
“When he has his feet moving, he’s hard to stop,” said Vegas coach Pete DeBoer. “He protects the puck so well and has great vision. He makes everyone on his line better.”
He’s also a great t for the newly hockey-mad city. His teammates reportedly have nicknamed Tuch “e Mayor” for his wide array of connections around town. And earlier this year, he and four teammates joined forces with renowned chef Wolfgang Puck to open Player’s Locker, the rst NHL player-owned sports bar in Las Vegas. Tuch even has his own item on the menu.
“It’s the sloppy, greasy, full of sauerkraut, corned beef Reuben that’s really hearty,” the Syracuse native told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “e Reuben actually originated, I’m almost positive, in upstate New York, because of the ousand Island dressing. So the Reuben is one of the staples of upstate New York. And it was always kind of like a comfort food to me.”
Comfort will be a key to Tuch’s success moving forward. at, and making his opponents uncomfortable.
He’s also a great fit for the newly hockey-mad city. His teammates reportedly have nicknamed Tuch “The Mayor” for his wide array of connections around town.