In the final minutes before the conclusion of the NHL trade window the rights to Lewiston Maineiacs’ forward Michael Chaput was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday afternoon. Also heading to the Columbus organization is Lisbon native and former University of Maine standout Greg Moore.

“When I talked to (Columbus) today, they were really impressed with the way he’s improved,” said Maineiacs coach J.F Houle said of Michael Chaput. “They really like his skating and they made that trade because they believe he will make the NHL.”

Although Houle hadn’t talked to Chaput yet, he has some words of wisdom.

“When a team acquires a player, it’s because they like him a lot,” he said. “Sometimes it can be one of the best things for a young player. In order to make the NHL, you need a couple of things to happen, timing is very important and obviously you have to play well and if someone likes you in the organization, you have a leg up.”

“I don’t know if he’s taking it as a rejection or a positive. “It’s certainly a positive because he never played for the Philadelphia Flyers besides training camp.”

In return, the Blue Jackets send Tom Sestito to the Flyers. The 6-5, 228-pound forward was playing for the Springfield Falcons where he played 46 games, scoring 11 goals 21 assists for 32 points. He played for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League in 2007 who bounced the Lewiston Maineiacs out of the MasterCard Memorial Cup. On that Maineiacs team was Michael’s brother Stefan – who was traded yesterday to the Boston Bruins from the Anaheim Ducks organization.

Michael Chaput is enjoying his third year with the Maineiacs where he has 22 goals and 32 assists in 54 games.

Greg Moore will be entering his fifth NHL organization as he was originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fifth round of the 2003 draft. He spent the entire year so far with the Adirondack Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers where he had seven goals and 11 assists in 56 games.

As mentioned former Maineiac Stefan Chaput was traded to the Bruins from Anaheim along with David Lailberte for Brian McGrattan and defenseman Sean Zimmerman. It’s the second time the older Chaput has been dealt this season. He was originally traded by the Carolina Hurricanes organization to Anaheim.

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The Portland Pirates stayed intact on Monday as the Buffalo Sabres, the Pirates’ NHL affiliate, were quiet on the trade front.

Their lone move was the acquisition of forward Brad Boyes from the St. Louis Blues for a second-round draft pick in 2011.

Boyes had 12 goals, 29 assists for 41 points with plus-11 in 62 games with the Blues this season.

The Pirates still make moves until next Monday (3/7 @ 3pm) when AHL teams submit their Clear Day.

(Files from Chris Roy)