Columbus Blue Jackets
· 2026-06-26
The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired forward Luke Tuch from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Hunter McKown.
The trade was announced by club President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell.
Tuch, 24, spent his first two full professional seasons with the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket.
He registered 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points with 122 penalty minutes and a +8 plus/minus rating in 114 games.
The 6-2, 219-pound winger was a second-round pick, 47th overall, of the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Draft.
He played four seasons at Boston University from 2020-24, serving as an alternate captain during his junior and senior campaigns.
Tuch tallied 31-40-71, 59 PIM and was +32 in 121 career games with the Terriers.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 40-30 record, on a L2 streak.
Tuch's addition is expected to add size, strength, and toughness to the team's organizational depth at the forward position.
He was a Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection in 2020-21 after collecting 6-5-11 and 12 PIM in 16 games.
The Syracuse, New York native played for Team USA at the 2023 IIHF World Hockey Championships, tallying 1-0-1 and two PIM in four games.
McKown, 23, tallied 0-2-2 and eight PIM in 12 games with the Blue Jackets in 2022-23.
He appeared in 184 career AHL games with the Cleveland Monsters, collecting 31-49-80 and 98 PIM from 2023-26.
The trade is seen as a positive move for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are looking to improve their lineup.
Tuch's experience and skills are expected to be a valuable asset to the team.