Penguins Acquire Spencer Machacek from Columbus

Paul Thompson sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets in return for Spencer Machacek. Photo credit: Amy's WBS Penguins Picture Page.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced they've acquired forward Spencer Machacek from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Paul Thompson. Machacek is set to become a restricted free agent after this season.


For Thompson, it's the end of the road with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after 201 total AHL games in a WBS uniform. The former 20-goal scorer from last season got off to a slow start and never seemed to recover, tallying seven points (4G-3A) in 39 games this season after starting the season as a healthy scratch.

Perhaps the change of scenery will do Thompson well, who just a year ago was on one of the hottest top lines in the AHL alongside playmaking center Trevor Smith and sniper Chad Kolarik. Thompson scored some big goals last season, and none probably more memorable than the overtime game-winner in the AHL outdoor classic over the Hershey Bears at HersheyPark Stadium.

In exchange for Thompson, the Penguins get another gritty but offensive minded right winger in Spencer Machacek. In 34 games with Columbus' AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons, Machacek has tallied 19 points (9G-10A). Machacek brings 393 regular season AHL games and 25 NHL games of experience to the WBS Penguins.

A former AHL all-star with the Chicago Wolves, Machacek is a three time 20-goal scorer. The five year pro scored 20 in each of his first three AHL seasons with the Wolves before adding 18 goals in 2011-12 with the St. John's IceCaps and 16 goals in the 2012-13 season, split between IceCaps and the Springfield Falcons.

The bottom line? Thompson had fallen out of favor with the WBS staff early in the season and his in-game competitiveness was questioned. A change of scenery should bode well for Thompson and the Penguins get a reliable, experienced replacement in return in Machacek.