The Red Wings have added some experience -- and a left-hand shot -- to their young blueline.
Detroit has signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a one-year, $2.25 million deal, per Darren Dreger. It comes shortly after the club inked forward Andrew Copp to a reported five-year deal as it tries to push back into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.
Maatta will only be 28 next season, but he has nine years of NHL experience after entering the league with the Penguins at the age of 19. The two-time Cup winner has proven himself as a solid top-four defenseman and one of the better skaters at his position.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said one of his goals in free agency was to help long-tenured members of the club's core like defenseman Fililp Hronek by "surrounding them with better players." Maata spent the past two seasons with the Kings, logging 18:17 per game last season to help LA back to the playoffs.
He won't contribute much offensively in Detroit -- he totaled 12 points over 107 games with the Kings -- but Maatta can be expected to play a key role on the Wings' penalty kill. He'll also provide a potential steady partner for the 24-year-old Hronek.
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