Olli Määttä: harsh fate
Utah Mammothia representative Finnish defender Olli Määttä, 31, was not included in his team’s lineup on Thursday night, Finnish time, when Utah defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-2.
This was the second consecutive game that Määttä watched his team from the stands while healthy. He also did not play against the Ottawa Senators a few days earlier.
Määttä was traded from the Detroit Red Wings to Utah a little over a year ago. Last season, he averaged nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game in Utah, but now his responsibilities have dropped significantly. This season, Määttä has played less than 12 minutes per game. He has recorded 0+1 points in 15 games.
Määttä signed a three-year contract extension with Utah last March, which guarantees him a salary of 3.5 million dollars per season. This is now the first year of Määttä’s new contract.
Määttä represented the Lions in the 4 Nations tournament earlier this year. Considering the upcoming Olympics, Määttä’s reduced role is also a concerning matter.
In his NHL career, Määttä has played 776 regular season games and 85 playoff games.
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