AHL: Springfield Trades Captain to Syracuse

The Springfield Thunderbirds, this morning, in a surprising trade, have dealt captain Matthew Peca to the Syracuse Crunch in exchange for defenseman Wyatt Newpower. Peca this season in 49 games has 34 points on eight goals and 26 assists. Newpower in 44 games this season has eight points on two goals and six assists. The Thunderbirds have already traded away leading point-scorer Matt Luff, dealing him to Bridgeport. Now, they move their active scoring leader in Peca. Peca started his career with the Crunch now joins them on a push for the Calder Cup playoffs.

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Matthew Peca

Peca is in his fifth season with the Thunderbirds, appearing in 271 games, recording 233 points on 83 goals and 150 assists. He was a plus-six with 20 power-play goals, seven shorthanded goals, and 16 game-winning goals. In four seasons with Syracuse, he appeared in 204 games, recording 134 points on 34 goals and 100 assists. He was a -19 with 12 power-play goals, a shorthanded goal, and eight game-winning goals. In 530 career games in the AHL, he has 391 points on 124 goals and 267 assists. He’s a -36 with 34 power-play goals, eight shorthanded goals, and 25 game-winning goals.

Wyatt Newpower

Newpower has appeared in 256 career games between five different AHL teams. In 256 games, he has 52 points on 13 goals and 39 assists. He’s a plus-four with a power-play goal and a game-winning goal.

• AHL: Springfield Thunderbirds Three Stars of the Week 1/19-25/2026
• ECHL: Wyatt McLeod Heads Overseas
• Player Profile: Matthew Tkachuk
• Olympics: Auston Matthews to Captain Team USA at 2026 Winter Olympics
• What We Learned About Detroit From the Olympics