Red Wings players suffered massive heartbreak regarding the way they found out about the Olli Maata trade

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Daniel Lucente
October 30, 2024 (3:48 PM)

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The way the Red Wings players found out that their teammate Olli Maatta was traded was heartbreaking, as many had no idea until they got to practice.

It wasn't until late Tuesday evening that the Detroit Red Wings finally made a move, trading defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Hockey Club for a 2025 third-round draft pick. Of course, the draft pick in question had previously been owned by the New York Rangers but was moved to the Arizona Coyotes through the incredibly complicated three-team trade that originally brought Patrick Kane to town. This deal should help the Red Wings gain some new faces in the lineup over the coming years, and give Utah a veteran defenseman to help them now.

The roster of Detroit indeed took a big jolt from the unexpected transaction. As Sean Shapiro, a hockey insider explained, some of the teammates of Maatta didn't learn about the trade until they were en route to the morning skate. That revelation made what should have been a pre-game hype much subdued as the team prepared for their bout later that night against the Winnipeg Jets. And it is always tough to say goodbye when a player leaves without warning; making it worse, finding out during transportation to and from the rink, as the pre-game energy and focus were affected.

Maatta himself posted in the team's group chat to say goodbye, announcing the news directly to teammates himself. For many, that was the first they knew of the trade, finding out through his text that Maatta was off to Utah. It's a bittersweet departure for the 30-year-old defenseman, who has committed two seasons to Detroit and became very close with his teammates.

Currently, in the last season of a two-year, $6 million contract signed in 2023, he has had a decent start to the 2024-25 season. His career statistics are as follows: 691 NHL games with contributions across multiple teams such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, and Chicago Blackhawks. A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins in both 2016 and 2017, Maatta will add depth to Utah's defense which desperately needs it after injuries to some key guys like Sean Durzi and John Marino.

Deals such as this again bring into light the cold, hard realities of doing business in the high-stakes world that is hockey. It's something Olli Maatta likely would have much rather told teammates in person, but that's a nicety not always afforded in mid-season trades. It often means that while teams jockey to snatch up success on the ice, sometimes the human element falls victim to logistical problems. And it is one of the grim reminders for fans and players alike: at times, hockey can feel painfully corporate.