{"id":444608,"date":"2026-02-04T05:17:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T05:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/444608\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T05:17:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T05:17:11","slug":"former-red-wings-d-maatta-on-outs-in-utah-detroit-hockey-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/444608\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Red Wings D Maatta on Outs in Utah \/ Detroit Hockey Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Detroit<\/a> Red Wings close out the pre-Olympic slate of the NHL schedule against the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday, they\u2019ll be seeing old teammate Olli Maatta<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Just not on the ice.<\/p>\n

Maatta, 31, has been a healthy scratch for Utah\u2019s past 21 games. He\u2019s played just four of the Mammoth\u2019s past 41 games. Maatta has one assist and a minus-four rating in 19 games this season.<\/p>\n

Me and Olli Maatta, a week before he heads to Milan for the Olympics, no big deal. #tusksup<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/TQmefdXF5s<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Casey Ruff (@CaseyRuff) February 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, the season hasn\u2019t gone as I would have liked,\u201d Maatta told Finnish website Ilta-Sanomat<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019ve just been playing so well as a team lately. That\u2019s probably why I haven\u2019t been able to fit into the lineup.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the meantime, the former Red Wings defenseman keeps up his work level in practice, awaiting his chance to get back into the action.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have tried to turn this situation into a positive one,\u201d Maatta<\/a> said. \u201cThat is, to practice as well as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last season, Maatta was a steady performer for the Mammoth. He put up 2-16-18 totals over 70 games, along with a plus-seven rating. He skated 19:55 of ice time per game.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a first class organization\u2026 we got the keys in here to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thrilled to have Olli sign a three-year contract extension with us. \ud83e\ude75<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf0: https:\/\/t.co\/pxe65ioRAr<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/sNm8qydLBB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) March 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

That level of performance earned Maatta a three-year contract extension with an AAV of $3.5 million,<\/p>\n

Former Red Wings Player Heading To Olympics<\/p>\n

While many of his teammates will be enjoying some R&R during the Olympic break, Maatta is heading to Cortina, Italy. He is part of Finland\u2019s roster for the Winter Games.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been a reliable performer for the Finns in the past. Maatta<\/a> has represented his country at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, collecting 2-3-5 totals in six games. Maatta has also represented Finland in the 4 Nations Face-Off, World Juniors, World Cup of Hockey, and three IIHF World Championships.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am even more excited about going to the Olympics now that this season has not gone as expected,\u201d Maatta said.<\/p>\n

Whether he\u2019ll be suffering from rink rust due to his lack of game action could prove an issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, that\u2019s been on my mind too,\u201d Maatta said. But I\u2019ve been working really hard. I\u2019m definitely not in bad shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t