Utah Mammoth News

Maatta (upper-body) has been released from hospital; expected to miss 3-4 weeks.

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.

Olli Maatta
Matta was hospitalized after Tuesday’s win over the Wild.

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.

Olli Maatta
The Penguins have assigned Olli Maatta to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

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.

Olli Maatta
The Panthers are sending Lawson Crouse back to Kingston (OHL).

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.

Lawson Crouse
Panthers rookie Lawson Crouse will be given a nine-game NHL ‘audition’ to start the season.

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.

Lawson Crouse
The Capitals re-signed Nate Schmidt to a two-year contract extension worth $1.625M.

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.

Nate Schmidt
The Capitals have recalled Nate Schmidt from Hershey (AHL).

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.

Nate Schmidt
The Penguins have acquired Ian Cole from the Blues for Robert Bortuzzo and a 7th round pick.

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.

Ian Cole
Maatta is expected to sit out the rest of this season because of a shoulder injury.

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.

Olli Maatta