Olli Maatta News

Maatta cleared COVID-19 protocol on Monday and skated on the second pair with Matt Roy on Wednesday. Maatta heads into Thursday with three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games this season.

Both Maatta and Dustin Brown were added to the COVID protocol list on Sunday, joining Quinton Byfield, Phillip Danault and Cal Petersen, who were already on the list.

Maatta has two-years left at $4.083 million but Chicago retained 18.37 percent of the deal, so he'll only cost the Kings $3.33M AAV. That makes him the Kings' second-highest paid defenseman for 2021. Maatta had four goals and 13 assists (17 points) in 65 games in 2020.

Maatta served as a healthy scratch in Columbus on Sunday but will replace Slater Koekkoek in Calgary on Tuesday night. Maatta has one goal and seven assists (eight points) in 35 games this season.

Maatta will come out of the lineup on Sunday with Adam Boqvist returning from a one-game absence due to a shoulder injury.

Maatta missed the last four games with an illness but will replace Calvin de Haan, who is on IR with a shoulder injury. Maatta has eight points (1G / 7A) while averaging 1.2 shots and 1.3 blocked shots in 27 games this season.

Maatta missed Wednesday's practice and is questionable to play Thursday in Boston. If Maatta can't play, look for Dennis Gilbert to draw into the Blackhawks lineup.

Maatta was a first-round pick in 2012 but fell out of favour in Pittsburgh this past season. The Penguins brought in Jack Johnson and acquired Erik Gudbranson at the trade deadline and continued to push Maatta down the depth chart. The 24-year-old has had some injury issues throughout his career and is coming off of a season where he had 14 points (1G / 13A) in 60 games. Maatta, who has three years left at $4.083M AAV, will likely play on the Blackhawks third pairing.

Both Maatta and Marcus Pettersson struggled in Game 1 and Jack Johnson is expected to replace Maatta in Game 2. Maata was a minus-2 in 18:44 TOI on Wednesday.

Maatta is not expected to be in the lineup in Minnesota on Monday. Look for Jamie Oleksiak to draw back into the lineup for Maatta.

Maatta missed the Penguins morning skate and is listed as a game-time decision for tonight's game vs. the Blackhawks. Maatta has had a solid campaign to date, having picked up two goals and nine assists (11 points) in 21 games.

Maatta played just 7:38 before leaving last night’s game with a hand injury. The Penguins quickly announced that he underwent surgery and will likely miss the remainder of the regular season. Expect the Penguins to place him on LTIR to create a roster spot and earn some cap relief ahead of the 2017 trade deadline.

Maatta missed the last two games with an illness, but is set to return to the lineup tomorrow vs. the Canadiens. Once heralded as one of the next great young defenseman, Maatta has struggled to produce offensively, picking up just two assists in 35 games this season.