Flyers, Blue Jackets trade prospects

The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired defenseman Michael Ratchuk from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for right wing Stefan Legein.

Ratchuk has been assigned to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, while Legein has been assigned to the AHL’s Adirondack Phantoms.

Ratchuk, 21, has appeared in five games with Adirondack this season, tallying one assist and two penalty minutes. In 85 total AHL games with Philadelphia and Adirondack since 2007-08, Ratchuk has totaled six goals, 15 assists and 48 penalty minutes.

Prior to turning pro, Ratchuk skated in 82 games at Michigan State University from 2006-08, tallying 10 goals, 27 assists and 76 penalty minutes. In addition, Ratchuk spent two years from 2004-06 with the United States National Team Development Program, skating in 49 games, collecting seven goals, 10 assists and 18 penalty minutes.

A native of South Buffalo, N.Y., Ratchuk was selected by Philadelphia in the second round, 42nd overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Legein, 20, had two goals and one assist in six games with Syracuse this season. The Oakville, Ont., native was drafted by Columbus in the second round (37th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and made his professional debut with the Crunch during the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs on April 26, 2008 at Manitoba; he went scoreless in two games during that series.

In 26 games for Syracuse in 2008-09, Legein scored one goal and had four penalty minutes.

Legein is reunited with Adirondack head coach Greg Gilbert, who was behind the bench for Legein’s first two seasons with the Mississauga Ice Dogs of the OHL (2004-06). Legein was also an alternate captain for Canada on the gold-medal-winning squad at the 2008 World Junior Championships.