Luke Tuch Signs Two-Way Deal as Columbus Deepens AHL Depth Amid Offseason Upheaval

Columbus announced Wednesday that it has signed forward Luke Tuch to a two-year, two-way contract. The deal carries no disclosed compensation terms and represents a depth acquisition for the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, where Tuch will compete for roster minutes.

Tuch, acquired earlier from Montreal, spent last season with the Laval Rocket, posting 14 points across 68 AHL games—a production line that fits the profile of a organizational reserve rather than an NHL-ready prospect. A Boston University product selected in the 2020 NHL Draft's second round, Tuch has not yet appeared in an NHL game. His 2023 IIHF World Championships appearance and captain designation in college provide organizational pedigree, but the AHL numbers suggest a depth-chart laborer rather than a call-up candidate who will materially impact Columbus' forward rotation.

The signing arrives amid a chaotic offseason that has tested GM Don Waddell's roster construction. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski nixed a Dallas trade and will remain in Columbus; star winger Kirill Marchenko, a 30-goal scorer, has requested out, though Waddell has publicly refused to deal him. Rick Bowness arrived mid-season and stabilized the roster enough to briefly push toward playoff contention before the team collapsed down the stretch, extending their playoff drought to six consecutive seasons. Tuch's contract underscores that Columbus is still shoring up organizational depth rather than adding the impact scoring or defensive assets that would signal a genuine playoff trajectory.

From a betting lens, the Tuch signing has minimal direct impact on Blue Jackets' win totals or player props. He will not displace any NHL-roster forwards and will not receive meaningful minutes in Columbus proper. However, the move is symptomatic of a deeper organizational issue: the Blue Jackets remain dependent on depth depth-farming and AHL depth cycles rather than attracting or retaining external impact talent. Marchenko's trade request signals that even the team's marquee scorer views the trajectory with skepticism, and Werenski's unwillingness to leave (despite being offered an escape route) may reflect a reluctance to accept another team's overtures rather than confidence in Columbus' direction. These roster-construction signals—combined with a sixth-straight playoff miss—suggest that unders on Columbus' season win total will remain attractive into the fall, as the organization has yet to demonstrate the external talent acquisition or internal development pathway that would justify upgraded offensive or playoff-probability projections.