Canadiens acquire Hunter McKown from Blue Jackets for Luke Tuch
For the second straight day, a Tuch is on the move, although this time it’s on a much smaller scale.
The Montreal Canadiens have acquired center Hunter McKown from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Luke Tuch.
The trade was first reported by TSN and Athletic insider Pierre LeBrun.
🚨Trade #CBJ Luke Tuch 24 y/o F - RFA #GoHabsGo Hunter McKown 23 y/o F - RFA puckpedia.com/trade/1141?6a3…
This trade is more important for both teams’ respective AHL affiliates, the Cleveland Monsters and Laval Rocket, as McKown has 12 NHL games under his belt, while Tuch hasn’t played a single game. McKown had two assists in those 12 NHL games.
McKown took a step back in the AHL this season, as he had nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 63 games after a career-high 31 points last season. An undrafted signing out of college in 2023, he’s currently a restricted free agent after the conclusion of his one-year, $800,000 contract from this season.
Tuch also took a step back in the AHL this season with nine goals and five assists for 14 points in 68 games. While he set a new career high in goals and matched his career high in points from last season, it came in 24 more games than last year. He was a second-round pick by the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Draft, and is an RFA after the conclusion of his two-year contract with a $912,500 cap hit.
Tuch is also the younger brother of Alex Tuch, who was dealt to the Washington Capitals the day prior in a sign-and-trade.
Columbus has more than $26 million in cap space after acquiring Valeri Nichushkin earlier on Thursday, with 12 unrestricted free agents and nine restricted free agents left to re-sign, highlighted by Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment, Adam Fantilli and Jet Greaves.
Montreal hasn’t been nearly as busy so far this summer, but they have almost $11 million in cap space with seven UFAs and 11 RFAs, highlighted by Patrik Laine, Kirby Dach and Zach Bolduc.