NHL
Montreal CanadiensOpens in new window
Columbus Blue JacketsOpens in new window

Canadiens agree to deal Tuch to Blue Jackets for McKown in swap of RFAs

Published: 

The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to trade forward Luke Tuch to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for centre Hunter McKown, per TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun.

Both players spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL - Tuch scored nine goals and finished with 14 points in 68 games for the Laval Rocket, while McKown scored nine goals and finished with 25 points in 63 games for the Cleveland Monsters.

Both players are pending restricted free agents this summer.

Tuch spent the past three seasons with Laval after the Canadiens selected him in the second round (47th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

McKown was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Blue Jackets and spent 12 games with the team in 2022-23, but has played the past three seasons in the AHL with Cleveland.

The 24-year-old Tuch is the brother of Alex Tuch, who was dealt to the Washington Capitals in a marquee deal earlier this week.