Maatta is expected to draw back into the lineup after a two-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The veteran defenseman skated alongside Shayne Gostisbehere at practice on Thursday and has six points (1G / 5A), 16 hits, and 29 blocks through 27 games this season.
After playing in each of Detroit's last five games, Maatta will take a seat on Monday in favour of Justin Holl. Maatta has no goals and five assists in 25 games with the Red Wings this season.
Maata will be scratched to make room for the return of Jeff Petry. In seven games this season, Maata has two points (0G / 2A) while averaging 15:31 time-on-ice, primarily on the third defensive pairing.
Maatta was a healthy scratch in the Red Wings' season-opening loss in New Jersey. With Robby Fabbri day-to-day with an injury, Maatta will suit up as the Red Wings' No.7 defenseman. He had 23 points (6G / 17A) in 78 games a season ago.
Maatta appeared in 78 games for the Red Wings in 2022-23 picking up six goals, 17 assists and a -9 plus/minus but will be a healthy scratch for their season opener Thursday vs. New Jersey. The 29-year-old signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension in February but was the odd man out for newly signed Justin Holl Thursday. He should find himself in Detroits' lineup more often than not.
Maatta has five goals, 12 assists, 37 SOG, 10 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 49 games in his first season in Detroit and has now signed a two-year contract extension worth $6.0 million ($3.0M AAV).
Maatta has not played since Dec. 6th due to illness and will be a game-time decision as the Red Wings take on Ottawa Saturday. Maatta has been having a resurgent first season in Detroit, with two goals, 10 points, 20 SOG and a +11 plus/minus through 25 games this season.
Maatta cleared COVID-19 protocol on Monday and skated on the second pair with Matt Roy on Wednesday. Maatta heads into Thursday with three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games this season.
Both Maatta and Dustin Brown were added to the COVID protocol list on Sunday, joining Quinton Byfield, Phillip Danault and Cal Petersen, who were already on the list.
Maatta has two-years left at $4.083 million but Chicago retained 18.37 percent of the deal, so he'll only cost the Kings $3.33M AAV. That makes him the Kings' second-highest paid defenseman for 2021. Maatta had four goals and 13 assists (17 points) in 65 games in 2020.
Maatta served as a healthy scratch in Columbus on Sunday but will replace Slater Koekkoek in Calgary on Tuesday night. Maatta has one goal and seven assists (eight points) in 35 games this season.
