Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Sabres Are On FIRE 🔥 Now The Alex Tuch Decision Looms... w/TSN's Darren Dreger | BB Clips

Episode Date: January 30, 2026

Rhett & Pinder are joined by TSN’s Darren Dreger to break down the red-hot Buffalo Sabres, who look like an absolute wagon right now — but with one massive question looming: what do you do with Alex Tuch? With Tuch set to become a pending free agent and likely commanding top dollar, the guys debate Buffalo’s options, whether they should lock him up or cash in, and if this surprise contender could actually be adding at the trade deadline.Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/QtaCNFhlu8k#nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal #buffalosabres #buffalo CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️BARN BURNER MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8📲 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn?lang=en🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIiProducer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Okay, let's move. Rett alluded to it off the top. As bad of the news is in Toronto, it might be even more positive and euphoric in Buffalo. Walk us through how the Sabres got here when they came through Calgary and I think like early December, November they're under 500. Yeah.

And now it's like don't extension. Red hot. Goalies are all playing well. And Alex Tuck's talking about winning cups, not making the playoffs. How do they approach the debt? deadline and is Tuck going to resign there? How do you view that chip that Yarmal Keckleinen has to deal with?

Well, I mean, given where the Buffalo Sabres sit in the Eastern Conference standings, I can't imagine you consider trading Alex Tuck. You know, you can't replace that player. And I'm sure that Yarmo and the agent, the Bartlett, have had a number of different conversations. They're just not at a place where they're making progress, but that can change very quickly. I mean, Yarmu probably needed time to really overall assess the roster, not just how Alex Tuck fits into that roster.

And because he owns the player, he has time on his side. And, you know, Yarmu is a history of going down this road before. It didn't work out for him when he kept Brabowski and Panarin back in the day in Columbus. But he did it because he believed in the group, wanted to bring playoff hockey to the Blue Jackets and its fan base. It actually felt like they were a contending team. you know, and there's probably, you know, enough ground to be covered here or has been covered where you feel pretty good about the idea of extending Alex Duck even after the March 6th trade deadline.

So there has to be less concern overall in the bigger picture of that scenario. Why is Buffalo playing as well as they are and have gone on the run that they have? Hey, let's give credit to the group that we often criticize and that's the players. because they are the ones getting the job done here. The goaltending has been largely solid, if not better than solid. Borderline terrific. You know, they had Josh Norris back healthy for a stretch. He's day to day.

And for me, that helped Lindy Ruff stabilize his lines and give them a strength up the middle of the ice. So now you're talking about good goaltending and you're talking about line combinations that work, that have chemistry and you're strong at center. I mean, those are the principles for success. And I haven't even talked about their blue line, which is also kind of cracked into line here over the last number of games.

This has nothing to do, in my opinion, with a firing of Kevin Adams. This is more, maybe that was part of a wake-up call. I don't know. But the players are recognizing, you know, we're a pretty good group here. We just need to start playing that way, and they are now. Yeah, fair enough. Are they an ad team? I think they could be.

I do. And again, I think that I look at Yarmou Kowalainen and his track record. And, you know, granted, he learned from the mistakes that he made in Columbus. But, you know, if you feel like you have a need, why wouldn't you utilize that? It sounds like he's got full endorsement support by Tara Pagula, the owner there. So as long as you don't do anything disruptive. But I honestly, right, I think we're past that phase. You know, it wasn't that long ago, to be fair, we were talking about significant potential moves.

like Owen Power being in play and players like that. And maybe we still are. I mean, you can still make big trades as long as you're making those trades believing that you're upgrading in a certain area. I wouldn't be surprised if they add, but maybe they're looking throughout their lineup. And there's a difference between adding because you're trying to upgrade and a difference in adding because you've got injury issues that you have to backfill.

And that might be more of the need, more of the necessity by Yarmel Keklein and in the ad leading up to the deadline. Good point was made on socials last night. It was like, okay, so they're having a great run. Lots of teams are feeling good about themselves in the Atlantic. A lot of teams are on good runs. When you look at the east, I think Tampa's absolutely in. I think Carolina is absolutely in.

After that, it does kind of feel like 10 teams for another six spots. Like maybe Yarmal's looking at this saying, I don't want to waste this position we put ourselves in. We know we've got a good chance. to deal with Tuck. If I can bolster this group and make sure we get in, I wonder if you've used this as a huge opportunity. Don't let this slide through your fingers.

They had that 10-game winning streak like four or five years ago and then poof it was gone. Don't let that happen. This group's feeling so good about themselves right now. Yeah. And oh, yeah, it's been umpteen years since you were in the playoffs. 14, yeah. Throw the fans a bone.

They have to make it. They have to. I agree with that. And I think they will. I think they will as well. And I think it's a reason why Yarmal can be comfy. This isn't a spot of desperation, as you noted. They don't have to backfill a ton of injuries like we're talking about with some other teams like Toronto.

Like they're in a great spot. They are going to get Norris back soon. Yeah. And they look like a legit good team. You said it. Goaltending, spine of the roster, depth. Yeah. Add to this group.

And I think you're probably getting a checkmark break. I just, I don't. Obviously, I'm a fan of the savers because I play there and look there and blah, blah, blah. and they've been drafting and missing the playoffs and putting these guys together. I don't know what the cupboard's like, but it sounds like now they have a bunch of goalies that are playing well because that is like,

these guys aren't playing very well. Now it's, I mean, it feels like they've got assets to move out to bring guys back if needed. Absolutely. They do. And, you know, we don't truly know what the trade market is in terms of the players that are available.

And that doesn't mean you have to be a true seller. You know, to go back to the Maple Leafs right now, They take it on the chin yet again last night, right, to kick off their road swing. But they're still not a defined seller, at least according to the general manager. You know, I mean, Bobby McMahon's a hell of a hockey player, man. Like, this guy's getting paid. Like, could you not big guy can skate? Like, I can envision him being a nice ad, you know, I mean, was that long?

Well, people were talking about, hey, I wonder if Alex Tucker would look good with the Maple Leafs? What about the Montreal Canadiens? Okay. Maybe Bobby McMahon would look good with the Buffalo Sabres. I mean, let's go. And what I'm saying is just because we as insiders, put out our trade bait lists and have all these players on that list, we're not even skimming the surface.

Those are just the obvious candidates in play. There's lots of things that can transpire between now and the second of March. But I do think that there would be added incentive from Yarmot's seat. I mean, you've got Columbus pushing. Philadelphia Flyers lost handily last night That Bruins team is no joke right now. Bruins, yeah. No joke.

Like, I watched that game last night because a good buddy of mine, his son, Maddie Potra, got called up from Providence and had a hell of a game, I thought, for the Bruins. Fraser Minton in that line, those guys are wired right now. And they're dealing with injuries in Boston as well. So you've got the Bruins there.

You've got Columbus. Philadelphia is still nibbling. You know, Florida. Florida's in trouble. I told you to talk to Billy months ago. I know. I think you're going to make it. Well, and they're getting their best players back soon.

That's the reason to believe in Florida. It's not what they've done through 53 games. It's that they might get Barkov back with a little bit of runway. That's what scares you about Florida. Never mind some of the other guys they've been missing. Montreal, it was the youngest team in the league. I'm far back. Six.

They got games at hand, but they're eight back in the playoffs. Yeah, they've got, there's some heavy lifting there for sure. Yeah. And again, like if we're just talking the math, like you're going to play until mid-April, so you've got two and a half months, can they pick up an extra three wins than the team they're chasing over the next two and a half months? Absolutely they could. But it's just so many teams like Washington, New Jersey look dead in the water. They're not like they're a hot runaway from getting in. It is fascinating in the East.