The Red Wings’ “forgotten man” in terms of their free agency signings was one Olli Maatta, a 27-year-old defenseman whose one-year contract wasn’t announced by the Red Wings until just after 7 AM this morning.
Maatta spoke with the Wings’ media corps today, and the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan asked Maatta why he left an up-and-coming Los Angeles Kings team to join Detroit:
“You see some of the players they already had before free agency started, and adding some big pieces, it’s a great place and exciting times,” Maatta said. “You can definitely see it, they’re up and coming and they want to be contenders and I want to be part of it.”
Maatta, who’ll be 28 in August, has been known as a defensive defenseman throughout his nine-year career. But Maatta feels he can contribute in other ways, as well.
“I have more offense in my game, more than in the last couple of years, and it’s definitely something I’ve been working on,” said Maatta, whose extensive playoff experience with Pittsburgh should be a benefit to a young team. “I hope so, but when you come to a new team you want to be yourself and just try to fit in and find your spot and just fit in well.”
Los Angeles teammates Andreas Athanasiou and Troy Stecher, both former Wings, gave Maatta glowing reports on the Wings organization.
“Nothing but good things to say, organization- and team-wise,” Maatta said. “My agent said there were teams that were available, but to be honest, there was nothing bad about Detroit and it was all great things, and how exciting the team is, and they definitely want to be a contender. It felt right.”
