
Utah Mammoth News

Maatta is nearly two weeks into a 3-4 week timetable and his return to practice already suggests that he could return at the front-end of that timeline. Maatta will need to get a couple of practices under his belt before he gets back into the lineup.

Agozzino will move onto the Avs’ fourth line for Saturday’s game vs. the Jets. The 24-year-old has 16 points (7G / 9A) in 13 games with San Antonio (AHL) this season.

Maatta was hit from behind into the bench door in Tuesday’s win over the Islanders. He was hospitalized for nearly 24 hours and is now expected to miss 3-4 weeks with an upper-body injury. The Penguins were originally worried about organ damage, so 3-4 weeks isn’t too bad all things considered. Expect the Penguins to recall a blueliner on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

Maatta spent the night in the hospital and will remain in the hospital on Wednesday and undergo further evaluation. The Penguins were originally concerned about internal organ damage, but that doesn’t appear to be as big of a concern at this point.

Maatta was hit into the open bench door in Tuesday’s win vs. Minnesota. Matt was down on the ice for a few minutes before being helped to the locker room. Matt was held overnight at a nearby hospital for evaluation and an update on his status is expected to come on Wednesday.

Maatta was sent down as a paper move to maximize the Penguins cap flexibility but it was always the plan to recall him and have him play in their season opener tonight in Dallas.

This move is believed to be a procedural move to help set them up to get down to their 23-man roster and sneak under the league’s salary cap. Maatta is expected to be recalled prior to their season opener and he should be in the lineup on Thursday.

Crouse was the 11th overall pick this summer and the Panthers announced in mid-September that he would be getting a nine-game NHL audition to start the season, but that’s not happening anymore. The winger is heading back to Kingston, where he had 51 points (29G / 22A) in 56 games last year.

Crouse, 18, was selected 11th overall in this summer’s draft. The 6-foot-4, 215 lbs. winger tallied 29 goals and 22 assists (51 points) in 56 games with the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) last season. Crouse has some competition to make the squad, but his size could prove to be a key factor in the Panthers decision. After the nine-game tryout, the Panthers will decide what is best for his future.



Schmidt, 23, had four points (1G / 3A) in 39 games with the Capitals in 2014-15. In 19 games with Hershey he collected nine points (3G / 6A). He signed a one-way contract which suggests he might take Mike Green’s spot on the team. Green is expected to test free agency on July 1st.

Schmidt appeared in six games under emergency conditions. He scored one goal and was a minus-4 over that span.

Schmidt, 23, has been recalled because Mike Green is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Schmidt has three assists in 33 games with the Capitals this season. While in Hershey, he has registered six points (2G / 4A) in eight games.

Connauton has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury, but has been cleared to play on Tuesday. Just because he has been cleared to play, doesn’t mean that he will, but he is available for coach Todd Richards.

Cole, 26, will be a restricted free agent in the offseason. He has the size to be a good defensive defenseman but has shown a little bit of offensive acumen as well. He had nine points (4G / 5A), a plus-16 rating, 42 hits and 63 blocked shots in 54 games this season.

Cole was a healthy scratch on Tuesday, but will be back in tonight for Chris Butler. He has on goal and two assists in his last six games.

Connauton will miss his second straight game tonight and will miss his third tomorrow vs. the Penguins. He is listed as day-to-day, so there is a chance that he could return next Tuesday vs. the Capitals.

Although the decision on that might not be finalized for a few days, a source familiar with his situation said the injury that has prevented Maatta from playing since Dec. 6 has not responded satisfactorily to rehabilitation efforts. Maatta is expected to undergo an operation once he is officially ruled out of the rest of the season, but a decision on surgery has not been finalized yet.
