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Thursday, March 27, 2008
Machacek in the mix
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunrise — Don Waddell confirmed this morning that the team has signed Spencer Machacek, the Thrashers third round pick in the draft last year. The 6-foot-1 right winger is having a great season in this third year in the WHL and his Vancouver team is in the midst of a playoff run. The team got the signed contract last night.
Waddell wouldn’t say what the immediate plans are for Machacek because he wants him to focus on the playoffs. But I chatted briefly with Bryan Little and he said it was really beneficial for him to play in the AHL playoffs last season even if it was just for a couple games. He said it’s a big jump from junior to the pro game and that helped him realize it.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Machacek does the same thing, although Waddell said that hasn’t been discussed yet. He also said that the team is in negotiations with Angelo Esposito, the forward prospect acquired in the Marian Hossa trade. Esposito has been strong since the Hossa trade, and Waddell suggested that he might have gotten an extra spark when he realized that he had a better chance of reaching the NHL quicker with the Thrashers than with Pittsburgh.
It sounds like they’d like to get a deal done there as well, although Don said that Esposito is in a different situation than Machacek because he still can play another year of junior. So we’ll see. But seriously, the Thrashers might as well go young next year, right?
As for the game tonight, no changes in the lineup. Alexei Zhitnik didn’t make the trip, again. I really think the handwriting is on the wall for him, don’t you? Kari Lehtonen gets the start in goal.
