Blue Jackets finalize two-way deal with forward Luke Tuch after June trade

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced they have signed forward Luke Tuch to a two-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract. The move formalizes Tuch’s path to Columbus after the team acquired him in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on June 25.

A two-way contract typically indicates how a player is expected to be used across both leagues. For the Blue Jackets, it gives them an option at the NHL level while also retaining flexibility to deploy Tuch in the AHL if roster needs or development plans call for it over the life of the deal.

Tuch’s addition comes as Columbus continues shaping its forward group, using the offseason to add players with the ability to move between tiers. While the Blue Jackets have not publicly framed the signing in terms of specific line roles in the announcement reported by Yahoo Sports, the timing and contract structure indicate the organization values his utility within a broader depth plan rather than presenting him solely as a long-term lock for one spot.

The transaction background adds another layer. Because the trade acquisition occurred on June 25 and the signing was announced on July 15, the agreement acts as a bridge between the teams’ trade business and the Blue Jackets’ plans for how to carry players into training camp and the regular-season roster build.

From Montreal’s perspective, the trade of Tuch and Columbus’s subsequent contract decision means the Canadiens’ contribution in the deal has now been converted into a defined player asset for the Blue Jackets. For fans, it also clarifies that Columbus intends to keep Tuch within its system for the next two seasons, with the contract’s two-way format providing Columbus the ability to manage his minutes and usage depending on how the depth chart evolves.

What to watch next is how Columbus uses its forward depth in camp and preseason, and whether Tuch’s pathway is primarily through NHL assignments, AHL minutes, or a mix of both. With a two-year contract in place, the focus will be on whether he earns a more stable NHL role as the season approaches, or whether the organization keeps him as a flexible piece at the NHL-AHL threshold.