Blue Jackets sign Chaput to one-year, two-way deal
COLUMBUS, Ohio --- The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Michael Chaput to a one-year, two-way contract (NHL/AHL) for the 2015-16 season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.
Chaput, 23, posted a goal and four assists for five points with 21 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Blue Jackets during the 2014-15 campaign, including tallying his first career NHL goal on Dec. 18, 2014 vs. Washington. He also collected 10-11-21 with 22 penalty minutes and a +2 plus/minus rating in 45 games with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League this season.
The Ile Bizard, Quebec native has registered 1-5-6 and 23 penalty minutes in 50 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets. He has also notched 42-56-98 and 130 penalty minutes in 173 career AHL games with the Falcons since beginning his professional career in 2012-13.
Philadelphia's first pick, 89th overall, in the 2010 NHL Draft, Chaput was acquired by Columbus in a trade from the Flyers on February 28, 2011. He recorded 77-110-187 with 238 penalty minutes and a +49 plus/minus rating in 216 career games with the Lewiston MAINEiacs and Shawinigan Cataractes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 2008-12. He tallied 21-42-63 and 47 penalty minutes in 57 games with Shawinigan in 2011-12 and was named MVP of the 2012 Memorial Cup after leading the tournament in scoring with 5-7-12 in six games, helping the Cataractes capture their first Canadian Hockey League title in franchise history.
(Columbus Blue Jackets press release)
