The Montreal Canadiens have acquired forward Hunter McKown from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Luke Tuch, according to Arpon Basu of The Athletic and Pierre LeBrun.
The trade, finalized on the afternoon of the 2026 NHL Draft, brings the 23-year-old McKown to Montreal as the team looks to bolster its forward depth. McKown, a right-shot center/winger, has spent the last season split between the NHL and AHL, showing promise as a versatile bottom-six contributor. In exchange, the Blue Jackets receive Luke Tuch, a physical winger who was a former second-round pick for the Canadiens.
The move comes amid a flurry of activity for Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes. Earlier today, Pierre LeBrun reported that Montreal has been "aggressively calling" around the league to explore upgrades for their top-six forward group. While the Canadiens reportedly inquired about veteran centers Bo Horvat and Vincent Trocheck, those players remain with their respective clubs for now.
Montreal is currently slated to pick 28th overall in the first round of tonight's draft. The acquisition of McKown provides immediate roster flexibility as the front office continues to weigh further moves before the draft begins at the Sphere.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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