Maatta is nearly two weeks into a 3-4 week timetable and his return to practice already suggests that he could return at the front-end of that timeline. Maatta will need to get a couple of practices under his belt before he gets back into the lineup.

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.

Maatta spent the night in the hospital and will remain in the hospital on Wednesday and undergo further evaluation. The Penguins were originally concerned about internal organ damage, but that doesn’t appear to be as big of a concern at this point.

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.

Maatta was sent down as a paper move to maximize the Penguins cap flexibility but it was always the plan to recall him and have him play in their season opener tonight in Dallas.

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.

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.

Maatta has been skating for over a week but still needs to join full practice, before a return is imminent. He is one and a half weeks into a four-week timetable, and there has been no word on whether or not he is ahead of schedule.

Maatta, who is also battling mumps, is progressing well, but is still expected to miss another month. His original timeline was “a couple of weeks”, but don’t expect to see him until late January.

Maatta had already been sidelined since December 6th with an upper-body injury and now he has contracted the mumps virus. It has been a brutal stretch for the young blue liner who also recently underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his neck. There is no timetable for Maatta’s return.

According to head coach Mike Johnston said Maatta is still being tested and is going to miss a couple more weeks. With Maatta out, Christian Ehrhoff and Paul Martin will take on bigger roles on the blue line. Expect him to be out until after Christmas.

Maatta’s placement is retroactive to December 6th which means he is eligible to return to the lineup whenever he is healthy. He will miss his third consecutive game tonight, but could be back in the lineup by Monday vs. the Lightning.

Maatta suffered an undisclosed injured in the Penguins win over the Senators on Saturday. With Maatta out, Robert Bortuzzo will draw back into the lineup after a two-game suspension. Maatta is day-to-day.

Maatta missed the last six games after getting surgery to remove a tumour from his neck. Maatta will be skate with Christian Ehrhoff as his defense partner. He has one goal and five assists in 10 games this season.

Maatta looks to make his return after surgery to remove a tumour from his neck.

Matta had 6 pts in 10 games this season on the Penguins blue line

Maatta is expected to miss three more weeks, but returning to the ice already puts him ahead of that timetable. Continue to monitor his progress.

Maatta is expected to miss four weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from his thyroid gland last Tuesday. However, returning to the ice this week, should put him well ahead of that four-week timetable.

Maatta, 20, has been cleared to play until the time of the surgery. Dr. Dharmesh Vyas, the Penguins’ team physician said he will likely be able to return to the lineup within four weeks. “Obviously our first concern is for Olli and his health,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said. “He is an outstanding young man and has a tremendous future ahead of him. The doctors tell us that this is a very treatable condition, and that it can be taken care of with the surgery."