Red Wings Deal Maatta to Utah

In a late-night move, the Detroit Red Wings announced the trade of defenseman Olli Maatta to Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday night.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have traded defenseman Olli Maatta to the Utah Hockey Club in exchange for a 3rd round pick in 2025. pic.twitter.com/XUy7a6TvpM

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 30, 2024

The move makes sense from a lot of perspectives. Utah has been hit with long-term injuries on defense and Maatta helps shore up their depleted blueline. The Wings, meanwhile, had a much-publicized glut of depth defensemen.

That said, I’m slightly shocked that Detroit got a third back for Maatta at this point.  I really thought that they’d blown their opportunity to move him at the 2023 trade deadline, when they opted to extend him instead (and then add both Justin Holl and Jeff Petry the following summer).  I can absolutely see how he may have had the most trade value of the Wings’ blueliners, I just didn’t really expect to see a move happen.  The injuries in Utah opened an opportunity for Detroit, seemingly.

This likely means that Holl will remain with Detroit for the foreseeable future, though I could see him returned to the Griffins as a paper transaction while he no longer has to clear waivers to do so as a method of banking salary cap space.