Detroit Red Wings sign Olli Maatta to Utah Hockey Club

The Detroit Red Wings traded veteran defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday night as the NHL's newest team looks to overcome significant injuries to its blue line.

Utah sent a 2025 third-round draft pick previously acquired from the New York Rangers to Detroit for Maatta, who has a $3 million salary cap hit and is an unrestricted free agent after this season.

The 30-year-old Maatta played in seven games for the Red Wings this season, averaging 15:52 on Detroit's third pairing. Although he has yet to record a point this season, Maatta scored four goals and 14 assists in 72 games for Detroit in the 2023-24 season.

He is in his 12th NHL season and has played 691 career games for Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago and the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he won two Stanley Cups. Current Utah defenseman Ian Cole was his teammate on those Pittsburgh teams.

After a fast start to its inaugural season in Salt Lake City, Utah is 1-4-2 in its last seven games. This early-season trade could turn things around for the struggling club and addresses a critical area of ​​need for Utah.

Utah defenseman Sean Durzi underwent right shoulder surgery last week and is expected to miss four to six months. In the 2023-24 season, he was the leading scorer among defensemen for the Arizona Coyotes, who moved to Utah after last season. Utah also lost defenseman John Marino, whom it acquired from New Jersey in June. Due to injury, Marino has yet to play in a game for Utah this season. The team said he underwent lower back surgery last week that will keep him out for three to four months.

Maatta gives Utah a veteran option in its defensive corps while Detroit sheds salary and gives him a valuable pick.