Olli Maatta was traded to the Utah Hockey Club by the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The 30-year-old defenseman doesn't have a point in seven games this season. He had 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) and a plus-14 rating in 72 games in 2023-24.
"I think with what we acquired in [Maatta], he's a two-time Stanley Cup winner," Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said Wednesday. "He gives a lot of stability to the defense, and that's what we need. One of the big things that we're trying to do is cut our goals against, and he's going to help add in that stability on the back side."
Maatta is in the final season of a two-year, $6 million contract ($3 million average annual value) he signed with the Red Wings on Feb. 16, 2023.
Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (No. 22) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Maatta has 177 points (40 goals, 137 assists) in 691 regular-season games with the Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings and Red Wings. He also has 27 points (five goals, 22 assists) in 85 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"For us to add another Stanley Cup winner to that [locker room], that's huge for us," Armstrong said. "One of the things you see with the club, I mean, I talk about this a lot, but I'll say it again. I think we're the second youngest team in the League. So, you know, you see games that we had the other night. We've got to calm that down and make sure that we have good veteran presence that's going to allow us to walk out with the win."
Utah (4-4-2) has lost six of its past seven games following a 3-0-0 start. It has also allowed at least four goals in six of its 10 games this season.
"[He's] probably one of the most hardest working, best reputation as a human being in the game," Armstrong said. "I've known him back from the days when I watched him play for the London Knights (of the Ontario Hockey League). His work ethic is incredible, it's contagious inside the locker room. He's a great person. He comes every day as a pro's pro and tries to get better and tries to make the club better."
Maatta could debut when Utah hosts the Calgary Flames on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; Utah16, SN360, TVAS).
"I think he's a good NHL defenseman," Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. "He has experience, great size, experience on the backend, stability. He's good defensively, great first pass. He's a veteran NHL player. I know a lot of guys in the Detroit staff, so I had a chance to talk with them. And I think transition will be pretty smooth."
NHL.com independent correspondent Matt Komma contributed to this report
