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Former Red Wings Defenseman Maatta Recounts Shock of Trade

Finnish defender found out about deal in wee hours of morning

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3 weeks ago

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Olli Maatta, Red Wings
It was after midnight when Olli Maatta was getting the news from Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman that he was being traded to Utah.

It’s often said that nothing good ever happens after midnight and former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Olli Maatta would certainly certify that fact.

News of his departure from the club came so late into the evening, it was too late to reach out to his suddenly former Detroit teammates. Maatta was just nodding off to sleep himself when his phone began ringing.

It was Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman with the news that he’d traded the Finnish defenseman to the Utah Hockey Club.

“Immediately after the phone call, I got out of bed and started packing,” Maatta recalled to Finnish website Ilta-Sanomat. “At the same time, I called to get additional information about where I should be and at what time.”

Quickly packing a bag, Maatta was up at 5 a.m. the next morning to catch a flight to Salt Lake City, taking only some clothes and his hockey gear. At some point he’ll be needing to get back to Detroit to be packing up the remainder of his belongings.

Heading directly to the rink upon arrival, Maatta would be making his Utah debut later that night. He would play more than 20 minutes during the game. Afterward, he began to wonder whether his mind was playing tricks on him. Was this all a dream?

“In the evening at the hotel after the game, I had to pinch myself to see if this could be true,” Maatta said.

No Time To Text Red Wings Teammates

Maatta wasn’t even afforded the opportunity to share a goodbye with his Detroit teammates.

“Everything happened so quickly that I didn’t even have time to internalize it,” Maatta explained. “It came out of nowhere.

“I was in Detroit for two years and there are a lot of good guys on the team. Too bad I didn’t get to see them again.”

The next day, he tried to send a message to his teammates on their shared Whats App, but found himself overcome with emotion.

“I didn’t really know what to write,” Maatta said. “I just wrote that I hope to see you soon.”

With eight defensemen on the Red Wings roster, Maatta was figuring some sort of more would be in the offing. Like all players, though, he wasn’t considering he’d be the one who’d be going.

“I had no idea that the transfer would happen to me,” Maatta said. “This is a cruel world. Friends and family are amazed when they see how things are happening here.

“But on the other hand, the good sides of this job are so good that I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I get to play the sport I love.”

Utah doesn’t come to Little Caesars Arena to face the Red Wings until March 6.

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