Olli Maatta has played steady hockey for the Red Wings all season. They've rewarded him with a two-year, $6 million extension, the club announced Thursday.
Maatta, 28, was set to be a free agent this summer after signing a one-year, $2.25 million Detroit last offseason. Instead of letting him get there, Steve Yzerman decided to secure an important piece of the team's blueline through 2024-25.
A reliable stay-at-home defenseman, Maatta has helped the Wings play with better structure and spend less time in their own end this season. He's also combined with the more offensively-inclined Filip Hronek to give the club a solid second D pair. Next to Maatta, Hronek is having the best season of his career.
Maatta has chipped in some offense himself with 17 points in 49 games, after recording just 12 in the prior two seasons combined, putting him on pace for the second most points of his career.
A 10-year vet and two-time Cup winner who's logged more than a season's worth of playoff games, Maatta also brings valuable experience to Detroit's locker room. His presence is especially important to a blueline that's only going to get younger in the years ahead, with the expected arrivals of Simon Edvinsson and William Wallinder.
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