Don't Mess With The Metro

The characteristics of a good defenseman in the modern-day NHL; physical, nimble, good with the puck, and a hell of a slapshot. Yes, today’s top defensemen are more valued on their ability to score, like other Metro division players Kevin Shattenkirk of the New York Rangers or Nick Leddy of the New York Islanders, and outside of the Metro, Brent Burns, Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson, or Shea Weber. Nowadays, the appreciated defenseman is the puck-mover, or the power play quarterback, or the one who can create chance after chance with slapshots from the blue line(or further if you count Burns’ goal vs the Islanders), but the defensive defenseman role is something that can fit into any team, and if that player can add to the offense, it makes a truly solid player. Going back to all of those defensemen mentioned earlier, all are over the age of 26, what if I told you the player I’m referring to is only 22? Enter Olli Maatta, 6’2”, 22, and already one of the most commanding defensemen in the NHL. He’s been linked to trades recently, and is one of the most undervalued players on this team, as he was massive in the postseason moving the Pens to their second straight cup win, here’s why:

As a defensive defensemen, Maatta’s point tally isn’t very impressive, with just 7 in the regular season, and 8 in the postseason, especially compared with the Pens’ best defenseman, Kris Letang, who had 34 more points in 14 less games. However, compare the two next to each other, and both show how influential Maatta was in Letang's injury absence. Maatta averaged playing 14 minutes per game last season. In the absence of Letang come playoffs, Maatta played a massive role of averaging 21 minutes per game. I think Maatta is still a work in progress, however he could star in a top 4 or 20 minute a night role, even with Letang coming back. He was 6th in plus-minus two seasons ago, and took a hit in total +/- this year with only 17, putting himself in the top 50, but his plus/minus per 60 minutes was 1.03, significantly better than Burns, Ryan Suter, Zach Werenski, and other star d-men. Maatta stepped up with 146 total blocks in all of last season, in the top 100 despite missing 27 regular season games with injury.

Olli Maatta isn’t a top defenseman right now, but this is me saying I have every belief that he can be that top defenseman in his near future. The stats portrayed aren’t the flashiest, but the grit won’t win games like goals or key assists, but it goes a long way in stability of a team.

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