Leading up to the NHL Entry Draft, it has been one blockbuster trade after another, but the Montreal Canadiens have been surprisingly quiet throughout all these transactions. After an incredibly successful season that saw them reach the Eastern Conference Final, it was expected that the Canadiens would be active this offseason to improve their roster, but so far, their name has not been involved in any of the big moves.
However, the Canadiens did finally get in on the fun, albeit not moves that will get the fans excited. Montreal made two AHL transactions, one on Thursday night and the other early Friday, neither of which is expected to have much of an impact on the Canadiens' NHL roster next season. The first move was with the Columbus Blue Jackets, acquiring Hunter McKown in exchange for Luke Tuch. The second deal the Canadiens made was sending William Trudeau to the New York Rangers for Brett Berard.
Canadiens acquire Hunter McKown from Blue Jackets
The second Tuch to be traded in as many days, but this one got a lot less media coverage. Luke Tuch, the younger brother of Alex, was drafted by the Canadiens in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He spent four years in the NCAA with Boston University before making the jump to the AHL following the 2023-24 season. In his first season with the Laval Rocket, Tuch had six goals and eight assists in 44 games. His development tailed off in his second season with the Rocket, equaling his point total from his first season (14), but he played in 24 more games. Tuch’s entry-level contract expired at the end of last season, and instead of signing him to a new deal, the Canadiens traded him to the Blue Jackets for Hunter McKown.
McKown's journey so far has been different from Tuch’s. McKown spent three years at Colorado College, but after going undrafted, he signed an entry-level deal with the Blue Jackets at the end of the collegiate season and immediately made the jump to the NHL. He finished off the season with the Blue Jackets, appearing in 12 games and finishing with two assists. McKown has not appeared in the NHL since his first season, playing these past three seasons with the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. In 184 games with the Monsters, McKown had 31 goals and added 49 assists. Like Tuch, McKown’s entry-level deal is done, and he will need a new deal going into next season. No matter what type of deal he signs, it is unlikely that he will be a contributor on the Canadiens next season.
Brett Berard's addition could be interesting for the Canadiens
On the surface, what looks like another AHL move, the move to acquire Brett Berard, might have slightly more value than the McKown move. Going the other way, the Canadiens are sending William Trudeau to the New York Rangers. Trudeau was the Canadiens' fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and after three seasons with the Charlottetown Islanders, he signed his entry-level deal in 2022. He has spent the last four seasons with the Rocket, playing in 260 games, recording 28 goals and 62 assists. Trudeau was down the depth charts for the Canadiens when it came to being called up to the NHL, making the choice to trade him for Berard the logical choice.
Berard looked primed to eventually be an everyday NHL player a couple of years ago, but after a down year last season, a change of scenery could do him well. After being drafted in the fifth round in the 2020 draft, Berard spent three seasons with Providence College. Following the conclusion of his junior season, he signed his entry-level contract and was immediately assigned to the Rangers' AHL affiliate, Hartford Wolf Pack. Berard had an outstanding first season with the Wolf Pack, scoring 25 goals and adding 23 assists in 71 games. The next season, he split the year between Hartford and New York, playing 35 games with the Rangers, scoring six goals while adding four assists. This past season, his production took a hit. Berard played the majority of the season with the Wolf Pack, recording just six goals and 16 assists in 41 games. He seemed to fall out of favour in New York, but he will get another opportunity in Montreal to see if he can be an everyday NHL player.
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