Maatta appeared in 78 games for the Red Wings in 2022-23 picking up six goals, 17 assists and a -9 plus/minus but will be a healthy scratch for their season opener Thursday vs. New Jersey. The 29-year-old signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension in February but was the odd man out for newly signed Justin Holl Thursday. He should find himself in Detroits' lineup more often than not.

Maatta has five goals, 12 assists, 37 SOG, 10 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 49 games in his first season in Detroit and has now signed a two-year contract extension worth $6.0 million ($3.0M AAV).

Maatta has not played since Dec. 6th due to illness and will be a game-time decision as the Red Wings take on Ottawa Saturday. Maatta has been having a resurgent first season in Detroit, with two goals, 10 points, 20 SOG and a +11 plus/minus through 25 games this season.

Maatta cleared COVID-19 protocol on Monday and skated on the second pair with Matt Roy on Wednesday. Maatta heads into Thursday with three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games this season.

Both Maatta and Dustin Brown were added to the COVID protocol list on Sunday, joining Quinton Byfield, Phillip Danault and Cal Petersen, who were already on the list.

Maatta has two-years left at $4.083 million but Chicago retained 18.37 percent of the deal, so he'll only cost the Kings $3.33M AAV. That makes him the Kings' second-highest paid defenseman for 2021. Maatta had four goals and 13 assists (17 points) in 65 games in 2020.

Maatta served as a healthy scratch in Columbus on Sunday but will replace Slater Koekkoek in Calgary on Tuesday night. Maatta has one goal and seven assists (eight points) in 35 games this season.

Maatta will come out of the lineup on Sunday with Adam Boqvist returning from a one-game absence due to a shoulder injury.

Maatta missed the last four games with an illness but will replace Calvin de Haan, who is on IR with a shoulder injury. Maatta has eight points (1G / 7A) while averaging 1.2 shots and 1.3 blocked shots in 27 games this season.

Maatta missed Wednesday's practice and is questionable to play Thursday in Boston. If Maatta can't play, look for Dennis Gilbert to draw into the Blackhawks lineup.

Maatta was a first-round pick in 2012 but fell out of favour in Pittsburgh this past season. The Penguins brought in Jack Johnson and acquired Erik Gudbranson at the trade deadline and continued to push Maatta down the depth chart. The 24-year-old has had some injury issues throughout his career and is coming off of a season where he had 14 points (1G / 13A) in 60 games. Maatta, who has three years left at $4.083M AAV, will likely play on the Blackhawks third pairing.

Both Maatta and Marcus Pettersson struggled in Game 1 and Jack Johnson is expected to replace Maatta in Game 2. Maata was a minus-2 in 18:44 TOI on Wednesday.