On Tuesday night time, the Detroit Pink Wings traded defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Hockey Membership for a 2025 third-round decide.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have traded defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Hockey Membership in change for a third spherical decide in 2025. pic.twitter.com/XUy7a6TvpM
— Detroit Pink Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 30, 2024
The transfer couldn’t have come at a greater time for Utah – they’ll be with out blueliners John Marino and Sean Durzi for the foreseeable future. Maatta can now slot into the lineup and provides Utah some much-needed depth on the again finish.
It’s addition by subtraction for Detroit. Positive, Maatta’s regular recreation might be missed, however the deal does profit the Pink Wings in just a few methods.
Pink Wings Achieve Flexibility By Shifting Maatta
Before everything, Maatta’s departure helps alleviate Detroit’s defensive logjam to a level. Justin Holl, Erik Gustafsson, and Albert Johansson will now compete for third-pairing minutes, with Johansson standing to achieve essentially the most from the commerce.
Johansson and Maatta play an analogous type, and the younger blueliner has solely gotten into three video games thus far this season. With Maatta out of the image, Johansson has the chance to grab a extra outstanding position with the Pink Wings.
As well as, the transfer additionally opens up a roster spot for Tyler Motte’s impending return. The ahead took half in observe Tuesday, and could possibly be obtainable for Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Buffalo Sabres.
The commerce additionally opens up $3 million in cap area – the Pink Wings had been up in opposition to the wage cap ceiling beforehand. Now, they’ll have the ability to accrue extra cap area because the season progresses and have extra flexibility so as to add down the street in the event that they so need.
The return on the deal—the 2025 third-round decide that beforehand belonged to the New York Rangers—could possibly be leveraged in a while so as to add one other participant. Or it might function draft capital heading into the 2025 NHL Draft. Once more, it’s all about flexibility.
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General, it’s a win-win for the 2 franchises. Utah acquires sorely wanted depth, and the Pink Wings acquire roster and cap flexibility for the remainder of the season. A good deal throughout.
