Junior Machacek began his
major junior career in
2005–06 with the
Vancouver Giants of the
Western Hockey League (WHL). He recorded 45 points in each of his first two seasons, playing an integral part in the Giants'
2006 President's Cup and
2007 Memorial Cup championships. in
2007 Ranked 54th among North American skaters by the Central Scouting Service at the mid-season mark of his draft year, Machacek was selected by the
Atlanta Thrashers in the 3rd round, 67th overall, in the
2007 NHL Entry Draft. Machacek returned to the WHL and was named
team captain of the Giants (replacing the departed
Brett Festerling) at the start of the
2007–08 season. Former teammate
Milan Lucic had originally been chosen as Fersterling's successor, but made the
Boston Bruins roster out of training camp. As team captain, he recorded career highs with 33 goals and 78 points in 70 games and was named Player of the Month for February after going on a 27-point tear in 14 games.
Professional At the end of the first round of the 2008 WHL playoffs, he signed his first NHL contract with the Thrashers on March 28, 2008. Reporting to the Thrashers' training camp for the
2008–09 season, he was assigned to the
Chicago Wolves of the
American Hockey League (AHL) on September 27. Late in the season, he was called up by the Thrashers and made his NHL debut on March 16, 2009, in a 5–1 win against the
Washington Capitals recording 7 minutes and 21 seconds of playing time. Machacek played two games total for the Thrashers in his professional rookie season while recording 48 points in 77 games in the AHL. During the inaugural
2011–12 season for the
Winnipeg Jets, Machacek scored his first NHL goal on March 23, 2012, against Washington's
Michal Neuvirth. He finished the season with the Jets posting a promising 9 points in 13 games. In the
lockout shortened
2012–13 season, whilst with affiliate the
St. John's IceCaps, he was traded by the Jets to the
Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for
Tomas Kubalik on March 10, 2013. In his first full season with Blue Jackets affiliate, the
Springfield Falcons in the
2013–14 season, Machacek was again traded on February 6, 2014, to the
Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for
Paul Thompson. On October 8, 2014, after an unsuccessful try-out with the
Toronto Maple Leafs, Machacek opted to sign his first contract abroad with German club,
Augsburger Panther of the DEL. After one season with Augsburg, Machacek opted to remain in the DEL for the
2015–16 season in signing with
Eisbären Berlin on May 7. 2015. After two seasons in Berlin, Machacek left as a free agent to sign a one-year deal with his third DEL club,
Düsseldorfer EG, on May 7, 2017. In the
2017–18 season, Machacek set new career DEL high of 13 goals for 28 points in 52 games with DEG. On April 9, 2018, Machacek joined his fourth DEL club in five seasons by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Grizzlys Wolfsburg. ==Career statistics==