Blue Jackets acquire Luke Tuch from Canadiens in AHL swap

The Blue Jackets gave their AHL forward group more size and edge on June 25, acquiring Luke Tuch from the Canadiens for Hunter McKown. For Columbus, the move brought in a 6-foot-2, 219-pound left winger who fits the profile of a heavy, straight-line call-up option. Montreal got McKown, a center who has already logged AHL minutes and playoff work in Cleveland.

Columbus president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell announced the swap. Tuch arrived as a 2020 second-round pick, selected 47th overall by Montreal, and brings size, forechecking pressure and physical play. In a deep conference, that kind of winger can move quickly from roster filler to a useful recall when injuries or lineup changes hit.

Tuch spent his first three pro seasons with the Laval Rocket, where he played 114 AHL games and produced 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points, along with 122 penalty minutes and a plus-8 rating. He played 44 games, scored six goals and had eight assists in the 2024-25 regular season. At Boston University, he played four seasons from 2020-24, served as alternate captain in his junior and senior years, and had a career line of 31 goals, 40 assists and 71 points in 121 games. As a senior in 2023-24, he reached personal bests with 10 goals and 20 assists in 39 games and helped BU reach the Frozen Four in 2022-23.

McKown posted 9 goals and 16 assists in 63 regular-season games for Cleveland in 2025-26 and added 1 goal and 1 assist in six Calder Cup Playoff games. Over his AHL career, he has played 184 regular-season games and collected 80 points, plus eight playoff points in 25 postseason games. He has also appeared in 12 NHL games with Columbus and scored two points. McKown’s path runs through Colorado College, where he was an alternate captain and led the team with 21 goals and 28 points in 2022-23. He also spent two seasons in the U.S. National Team Development Program and played for Team USA at the 2022 World Junior Championship.