Luke Tuch Earns Hockey East Player Of The Week Honours

While one Montreal Canadiens prospect has been getting all the attention with the Boston University Terriers another has put together a solid campaign.

2020 second round, 47th overall selection Luke Tuch is playing in his fourth and final year with the Terriers. The senior is having his best season to date, and in an important game, Tuch scored a goal and added an assist in a big 4-2 win over the Northeastern University Huskies.

Tuch's 9-18-27 totals through 34 games is seven points better than his previous career best totals, in six fewer games. The big winger has been a dominant physical presence in the NCAA, using his combination of size and speed to beat the opposition.

He has also been a nice presence in front of the opposing goaltender taking away his line of sight and deflecting pucks into the net. There are no signs whether the Canadiens intend to sign him to his entry-level deal or let his rights expire, but he would certainly be a nice addition to the Rocket. His grit and big-hit ability open up space for his linemates, and he creates energy when needed.

The Rocket aren't exactly a team with a group of large forwards, with many under six feet tall and just brushing the 200-pound mark. They are competitive nonetheless, but in the postseason when wearing down the opposition becomes essential, having a player like Tuch is huge. He isn't the glamorous option and for that reason, he may not be signed, but it wouldn't necessarily hurt the organization retaining him.

Aside from Juraj Slafkovsky, the Canadiens don't have any legitimate power forwards, who can make a difference in the corners and around the front of the net. The team need remains pure offensive talent, but insulating that talent with big bodies who can push the pace of play is essential. I would be surprised and disappointed if Kent Hughes didn't sign him.

Hockey has become more of a speed game, and lots of plays are created in transition. But the Vegas Golden Knights are a great example of a team that won it all, and they were on the much larger side. The same can be said about the St. Louis Blues as well.

If Tuch decides he wants to stay in the Canadiens organization, it would be wise to keep him around. He will likely never shatter any point records, but he is fully capable of using his frame to get to the net and create space for his linemates. With Tuch in the bottom six down the road alongside Florian Xhekaj and Michael Pezzetta, that wouldn't be very fun to play against.