The Detroit Red Wings have traded veteran defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Hockey Club in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick (via the New York Rangers), the team announced on Tuesday.
This decision, confirmed on the Wings’ X account, aims to provide Detroit with increased cap space and roster flexibility while addressing Utah’s urgent need for defensive support due to injuries to two of their defensemen.
Maatta’s addition comes after Utah defensemen Sean Durzi and John Marino were both sidelined with significant injuries. Durzi is expected to miss five to six months due to a shoulder injury, while Marino, recovering from back surgery, is projected to be out for three to four months, as reported by The Athletic’s Chris Johnston.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have traded defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Hockey Club in exchange for a 3rd round pick in 2025. pic.twitter.com/XUy7a6TvpM
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 30, 2024
With these absences, Utah sought a reliable and cost-effective defensive option, and Maatta fits the bill. Although he may not be at his peak, Maatta is known for his solid defensive skills and penalty-killing abilities. His contract, worth $3 million per season and expiring soon, won’t heavily impact Utah’s salary cap.
This season, the 30-year-old Maatta has played in seven games for Detroit, averaging just under 16 minutes of ice time without any points. His limited role on a crowded Red Wings defense made this trade feasible. Maatta, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins, joins a Utah team looking to strengthen its defensive lineup.
He may be immediately needed, especially with Michael Kesselring listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game, according to Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune via RotoWire. Utah currently holds a 4-4-2 record, an encouraging start for a franchise newly relocated from Arizona.
