Main Photo: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Steve Yzerman has decided to keep 28-year-old defenceman Olli Maatta around for two more years. While possibly a trade deadline option with an expiring contract after this season, the Detroit Red Wings announced that Maatta has signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension at $3 million AAV.
Olli Maatta Signs Two-Year Extension with the Detroit Red Wings
UPDATE: The #RedWings today signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a two-year contract extension. pic.twitter.com/t8EOMwhiPK
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 16, 2023
The Red Wings will likely be sellers at the trade deadline this year, but have decided to keep Olli Maatta around moving forward. A first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Maatta has played ten seasons in the NHL. During that stint, he has spent time with the Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, and Red Wings. After having down years in terms of point production with the Kings, this season Maatta has put up 5 goals and 122 assists in 49 games for the Red Wings. Over his 49 games Maatta has a respectable 44.12 CF%.
What This Means for the Red Wings
This move retains for Detroit a serviceable bottom pairing defenceman for the next two years at a manageable cap hit. While the young Red Wings are still moving through their rebuild, having players with NHL experience is a valuable piece of the puzzle. Not only does Maatta have a decade of NHL experience, but he was part of the 2015-15 Stanley Cup Champion Penguins team.
Olli Maatta’s point production has been decent this season, but he can really help round out the Red Wings defence as a defensive defenceman. After Moritz Seider and Ben Chiarot, Maatta is third on the Red Wings in blocking shots with 79. He has good hockey IQ and can help kill penalties. With cap space always being a valuable commodity and Dylan Larkin‘s next contract still in question, locking Maatta up for two years can help with some predictability. This could turn out to be a smart signing by Yzerman as Maatta can solidify the defensive core with his play and experience and help mentor the rising youth of the Red Wings.
