The news leaked out a few days ago that it was on the verge of happening but now it's official- the Thrashers have signed Spencer Machacek to an entry-level contract. Machacek is in his third year with the Vancouver Giants in the WHL and went from scoring 21 goals and 45 points last season heading into the draft to notching 33 goals and 78 points this season as the captain of the Giants. They bumped the Chilliwack Bruins out of the playoffs last night and are awaiting their second round opponent in the WHL playoffs.

Craig Custance writes that Machacek may get the chance to join the Wolves after his team finishes up (don't hold your breath- Vancouver is poised for a deep run and might not finish up until May) and that talks are ongoing with Angelo Esposito who still has another year of junior left. One junior player that Craig didn't mention is Riley Holzapfel, whose Moose Jaw Warriors are one game away from being eliminated form the WHL playoffs. I haven't talked to Don Waddell about him, but if the Warriors get bounced I could certainly see him heading to Chicago to get some pro experience under his belt. I'm not sure how that would impact his entry-level contract status though. I'll let you know what I find out (UPDATE: Holzapfel can sign an Amateur Tryout Offer (ATO) and join the Wolves without it impacting his entry-level deal, which is what I thought. Both Holzapfel and Machacek can go pro at the end of their junior seasons or go back to junior next year for an overage season, though that's fairly rare for players of their ability).

I can tell you this- I really like the potential future of this club. Holzapfel saw a drop in production this season but still averaged close to a point per game in the defensive WHL. Machacek is going to be a nice power forward who likes to get his nose dirty in the corners and in front of the net, and Angelo Esposito has potential to be a high-scoring winger forward. It's almost certain that the Thrashers are going to be picking in the top five (if not higher) in the NHL draft this year and if there are plenty of top defensemen to be had there. The cupboards aren't as bare as many people would have you believe and the Thrashers have the potential to be a good, young team in the very near future.