Jeremy Laura: Wings send Maata to Utah For NYR 3rd in 2025

Maatta is a 3LD with a relatively expensive contract for that role. While he might be able to handle more minutes than he's getting, at least Yzerman got something for him. No real loss to the blue line.

Maatta is a 3LD with a relatively expensive contract for that role. While he might be able to handle more minutes than he's getting, at least Yzerman got something for him. No real loss to the blue line.
- jfkst1

I think Toronto wanted to move Timothy L. At least no shuffling has to be done for Kasper’s emergency with moving him out. Still hoping they get someone

Wings create space to play the rookie Johansson and bring back Tyler Motte without sending rookie Marco Kasper down. They also have $3.6M in cap space to aid any future moves.

Meanwhile, another ex-Wing D-man, Jake Walman has 2 3-pt nights in a row to help SJ gain their first 2 wins of the season.

"Just the other day, Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was lamenting the need to find a way to get more playing time for rookie defenseman Albert Johansson.

Tuesday, they came up with a solution. Detroit was making the decision to deal veteran defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Grizzlies in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft."
Story by Bob Duff, Detroit Hockey Now

Maatta is a 3LD with a relatively expensive contract for that role. While he might be able to handle more minutes than he's getting, at least Yzerman got something for him. No real loss to the blue line.
- jfkst1

Maata is on an expiring contract and can play the RS and help Utah there till the injured come back. He is a good fill-in that can be moved again at the TDL if Utah has the others back by then.

Sad to see him go. He had much more in the tank. I never agreed with how he was deployed under LAlonde. On the bright side, excited to see what Albert can do, and you can’t argue that Holl is much more effective this year. Now, block some shots!

"Just the other day, Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was lamenting the need to find a way to get more playing time for rookie defenseman Albert Johansson.

Tuesday, they came up with a solution. Detroit was making the decision to deal veteran defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Grizzlies in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft."
Story by Bob Duff, Detroit Hockey Now
- HenryHockey

So...according to Duff, he was traded to the Utah Grizzlies, which is an ECHL team. Is the 3rd round pick an NHL 3rd round pick?

So...according to Duff, he was traded to the Utah Grizzlies, which is an ECHL team. Is the 3rd round pick an NHL 3rd round pick?
- bluelineenforcer

That was probably a mistype…he’s going to Utah Hockey Club. Yes it’s a 3rd round pick that Utah acquired from NYR

"Just the other day, Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was lamenting the need to find a way to get more playing time for rookie defenseman Albert Johansson.

Tuesday, they came up with a solution. Detroit was making the decision to deal veteran defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Grizzlies in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft."
Story by Bob Duff, Detroit Hockey Now
- HenryHockey

Here is the PHR read:
Utah has acquired defenseman Olli Määttä from the Red Wings in a late-night trade, the team announced. They’re sending a 2025 third-round pick, previously acquired from the Rangers, to Detroit to complete the deal.

It’s no surprise to see the first-year franchise swing a deal for a defenseman. They’ll be without a pair of top-four defenders, Sean Durzi and John Marino, for most of the season after they both underwent surgeries in the past couple of weeks. Durzi could miss the rest of the regular season after having a procedure to repair his right shoulder, while Marino will likely be out until the 4 Nations Face-Off in February while recovering from lower back surgery

So we received a 3rd for Maatta...but had to give up a 2nd to dump Walman, when several other GMs expressed that they didn't even know Walman was being shopped.

This remains one of the stupidest moves by any GM in years.

So we received a 3rd for Maatta...but had to give up a 2nd to dump Walman, when several other GMs expressed that they didn't even know Walman was being shopped.

This remains one of the stupidest moves by any GM in years.
- HockeyBuzzed

It’s aging like milk in the boiler room. I don’t think I’ve seen one positive take away since the Walman deal was done in this space. Consensus at that level is pretty rare on anything but it seems to be on this. I would not want to have to take questions on that move at a presser.

So we received a 3rd for Maatta...but had to give up a 2nd to dump Walman, when several other GMs expressed that they didn't even know Walman was being shopped.

This remains one of the stupidest moves by any GM in years.
- HockeyBuzzed

Trying to gauge, on the Maatta deal, are you happy with the reasoning and return? Kasper stays up, Johansson gets more ice time etc.

For a team that was certainly looking desperate in terms of needing D support they sure didn't pay like it. In isolation, I'm okay with this for what it provides in terms of options/ youth exposure, in terms of global picture of the team post 23-24 season end.... puzzled

It’s aging like milk in the boiler room. I don’t think I’ve seen one positive take away since the Walman deal was done in this space. Consensus at that level is pretty rare on anything but it seems to be on this. I would not want to have to take questions on that move at a presser.
- Jeremy Laura

I recall some defending it. He had an attitude problem. Making room for Edvinsson. Etc... I said it was worthy of firing the GM. On the spot. The fact that other GMs had no awareness should have resulted in being fired. I was told to get a grip. Yzerman is a pro and you don't know anything.

Game day update - Watson recalled, Tarasenko is game time decision.

I recall some defending it. He had an attitude problem. Making room for Edvinsson. Etc... I said it was worthy of firing the GM. On the spot. The fact that other GMs had no awareness should have resulted in being fired. I was told to get a grip. Yzerman is a pro and you don't know anything.
- HockeyBuzzed

I’ll have to go back and check comments. I’ve heard some bizarre theories, one being that it was because he did “the gritty”. I asked, “why would the team approve a bobble head based on the celly if they hated it?” There are a couple explanations I won’t go into but nothing has felt quite right. I wouldn’t fire a GM on the spot, but whatever the reasoning is or was (if communicated) will probably be on a podcast in 10 years.

For a team that was certainly looking desperate in terms of needing D support they sure didn't pay like it. In isolation, I'm okay with this for what it provides in terms of options/ youth exposure, in terms of global picture of the team post 23-24 season end.... puzzled
- czahaluk

When the regular season started, I’m texting with my friend (per usual) and he’s doing pros and cons. I replied with, “I feel like I know less about this iteration of the team than any in the rebuild”. It honestly still feels that way before each game. Last year felt like some stability was being achieved and could be built upon. This feels like a partial reboot of the reboot.

When the regular season started, I’m texting with my friend (per usual) and he’s doing pros and cons. I replied with, “I feel like I know less about this iteration of the team than any in the rebuild”. It honestly still feels that way before each game. Last year felt like some stability was being achieved and could be built upon. This feels like a partial reboot of the reboot.
- Jeremy Laura

i remember reading that comment and agreeing fully.

I recall some defending it. He had an attitude problem. Making room for Edvinsson. Etc... I said it was worthy of firing the GM. On the spot. The fact that other GMs had no awareness should have resulted in being fired. I was told to get a grip. Yzerman is a pro and you don't know anything.
- HockeyBuzzed

The majority of commenters at the time thought it was an indefensible move based on the available information. I was one of them. And I still feel that way. Nobody told me to get a grip.

Walman is on fire and is dependable defenceman that can also run the power play Maybe Yzerman can get him for a second rd pick. Big upgrade over Gustafson

Walman is on fire and is dependable defenceman that can also run the power play Maybe Yzerman can get him for a second rd pick. Big upgrade over Gustafson
- saintdog19

I don’t know if it’s true but I’d read and heard that Walman was really emotional about leaving. We’re going to have to wait a long time to hear anything that resembles what went on and it’s doubtful it will be a satisfactory scenario