The Blue Jackets have acquired a power forward with the last name of Tuch, but it’s not the one fans hoped to see.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets acquire Valeri Nichushkin from Colorado Avalanche
Not long after acquiring NHL star power forward Valeri Nichushkin in a June 25 trade with the Colorado Avalanche, the Jackets announced a second swap of AHL forwards to bring Luke Tuch, not his NHL star older brother Alex Tuch, into their developmental system.
Alex Tuch was acquired by the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade deal with the Buffalo Sabres on June 24, which means the Blue Jackets are assured of seeing him at Nationwide Arena next season. The younger Tuch, 24, hasn’t yet played in the NHL and was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for Hunter McKown, 23, in a one-for-one exchange of depth forwards.
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Like his older brother, Tuch provides size, strength and grit at 6 feet 2 and 221 pounds. Unlike his brother, the younger Tuch needs to work on his scoring touch. He’s got plenty of size and strength, though, which is something Blue Jackets president/GM Don Waddell keeps adding to his system at all positions except goalie.
“Luke is a big, physical player with great character and a strong work ethic, who adds size, strength and toughness to our organizational depth at the forward position,” Waddell said in a statement.
Selected by the Canadiens in the second round (47th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Tuch played four seasons at Boston University before starting his professional career with the Laval Rocket. That’s Montreal’s AHL affiliate, which was led by former Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent in Tuch’s two seasons there.
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Playing 114 games over the past two years for Laval, Tuch totaled 28 points on 15 goals and 13 assists. He also racked up 122 penalty minutes and finished with a plus-8 plus/minus rating. That included nine goals, five assists and 14 points with 82 penalty minutes in 68 games last season.
McKown signed with the Blue Jackets at the end of the 2022-23 season as a non-drafted college free agent from Colorado College. He initially played 12 NHL games to conclude that season with Vincent running the Jackets’ bench, tallying two assists and eight penalty minutes.
Following his Columbus debut, McKown spent the past three seasons playing 184 games in the AHL for the Cleveland Monsters and compiling 80 points on 49 31 goals and 49 assists.
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Tuch isn’t expected to make the Blue Jackets’ roster in training camp, but could make his NHL debut in Columbus if the opportunity arises.
Dispatch Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets add lesser known Tuch brother in AHL trade
