Another year, another significant injury for Olli Maatta.
On Friday, the Penguins announced that Maatta, who exited last night’s 4-3 OT win over Winnipeg with a hand injury, has undergone successful surgery and will miss the next six weeks as a result.
Maatta, 22, had enjoyed a reasonably healthy campaign up to this point. He’s appeared in 53 games -- the only d-men to appear in more are Justin Schultz and Ian Cole -- while averaging 18:13 TOI, with a goal and seven points.
The hand ailment is just the latest in what’s been a tough start to Maatta’s professional career. Over the last three year’s he’s had a cancerous tumor removed, major shoulder problems, a case of the mumps and lower-body issue that hampered him at the end of last season.
Maatta’s not the only Penguin on the limp right now, either. Bryan Rust and Conor Sheary are both sidelined, while Carl Hagelin remains out with a concussion. It’s also unclear what sort of shape Justin Schultz is in, after he was crunched by Dustin Byfuglien last night and exited the game.
As for Maatta, the six week timetable means he’s on target for a Mar. 31 return -- which translates into as many as 20 games missed.