LEWISTON – If history is any indication, what you see is what you get with the Lewiston Maineiacs.

“History around here shows that we stick with what we’ve got around Christmas,” 20-year-old Lewiston forward Chris Tutalo said. “(Head coach) Ed (Harding) is a pretty firm believer in bringing guys up and building from within and not making trades. That’s not how you build up a winning team like last year. We didn’t go make all kinds of trades last year.”

On Sunday, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s mid-season trade window opens. In the past, Lewiston has done very little to tinker with its teams. Last year, despite no official activity, the Maineiacs actually did try to make a deal, but the teams involved could not agree on terms.

This year, the Maineiacs sit in fourth place in the Eastern Division, but are still within shouting distance of the top. That leaves the organization in a tough spot, especially with a bid in to host the Memorial Cup in 2009.

“We looking at a couple of possibilities,” Harding said. “Everyone calls, kicks some tires, something like that. We’ve got a plan, and if the plan goes through, great with some things. If it doesn’t, we’re happy with the guys we have.”

Halifax appears to already have secured a deal with Val d’Or for sniper Brad Marchand. The deal cannot be finalized before Monday, when the window is officially open, but he has spoken to several media outlets and indicated that he is, in fact, headed to Halifax.

“That’s a great challenge for us,” Harding said. “They’re going to have a great team up front. We’ll see, though. It’s still a long season.”

The players themselves have been quiet on the subject, much like last season.

“I know everyone’s nervous, and I know people don’t like to talk about it,” Giliati said. “It’s always between the coaches in the Q. Players don’t usually hear much about it. No one is ever sure.”

Some speculation across the league suggests that Lewiston could move one of its two starting-quality goaltenders, Jonathan Bernier and Peter Delmas.

“I really have no comment on it at this point,” Delmas said. “Whatever the coaches and GMs want to do, it’s up to them. I’m not expecting anything, and whatever happens, happens. We’ll see.”

Bernier has missed significant time this year due to his stay with the L.A. Kings, and now will miss another three weeks for the World Junior Championships playing for Team Canada.

As for the rest of the players, whatever happens, they said, happens.

“To be honest with you, I don’t think we need any big additions to this team,” Tutalo said. “Anybody that we can pick up might help, but I don’t see us out there hunting for anybody.”

“I’d like to see us have a contending team,” Giliati said. “I think we have a contending team right now, and I think either way, whether we make trades or not, we’re going to be great after Christmas, too.”