Olli Maatta Injury: Detroit Red Wings defenseman suffers setback against Philadelphia Flyers

Detroit Red Wings de­fenseman Olli Maatta left Friday's game­ against the Philadelphia Flyers with an upper-body injury and did not come­ back. The Finnish player, who took one shot on goal during his short five minute­s and 57 seconds on the ice, face­d an unlucky setback in the matchup.

Specifics about the­ kind and seriousness of Maatta's upper-body injury have­ not been shared ye­t. The sudden departure­ caused concern for the Re­d Wings, as Maatta has been an important member of the team.

With Detroit right back in action against the New Jersey Devils, the team will need to adapt swiftly to compensate for Maatta's absence on the ice.

Olli Maatta's season of resilience with Detroit Red Wings

The 29-year-old defenseman has six points (one goal and five assists) in 27 games for the Red Wings. Although his performance is in no way an impressive one by statistical standards, Maatta's influence extends beyond the scoresheet.

Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2012 NHL draft, Maatta quickly rose through the ranks, showing promise as a top-pair, two-way defenseman. His rookie season in 2013-14 was particularly notable, earning him recognition as the fifth finalist for the Calder Trophy. After overcoming low-grade thyroid cancer that required surgery in the 2014-15 season, Maatta returned to the ice after a brief hiatus.

In 2015-16, he played a pivotal role in the Pittsburgh Penguins winning the Stanley Cup. Maatta's journey continued with the Penguins for two more seasons before he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in June 2019.

The defenseman's path led him as a free agent to sign a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings in July 2022. In his first season, Olli Maatta proved his worth as he posted 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 49 outings. Realizing his contributions, the team extended him on Feb. 16, 2023, with a two-year, $6 million contract.