Kings acquire defenseman Olli Maatta in exchange for Brad Morrison

We have a trade to announce!

The LA Kings have acquired defenseman Olli Maatta from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Brad Morrison.

“Olli is a well-rounded player who will fit well with our group of defensemen,” said Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake. “He is a young player that already has a lot of valuable NHL experience, including a pair of Stanley Cups, and we look forward to having him join our organization.”

Maatta is under contract for two more seasons, at a cap hit at just over $3.3 million per season. Chicago is retaining just over 18% of Maatta’s salary. Morrison has one season remaining on his entry-level contract.

A quick look at this deal shows the Kings adding a left-handed defenseman to their blueline group, an area reported to be of interest during the offseason. Maatta has 78 career playoff games to his name by the age of 26, and adds some experience alongside Drew Doughty on an otherwise young group. Reports from Blackhawks reporter Scott Powers on Maatta were that, after a slow start to the season, he performed well once he found a consistent role and defensive partner in the second half of the season.

Morrison has spent his first two professional seasons split between the AHL and ECHL, and will get himself a fresh start in the Chicago organization.

From the team’s official release –

Maatta, 26, tallied 17 points (4-13=17) in 65 games last season with the Blackhawks, while averaging 18:25 time on ice. In nine playoff games, he led the team with a plus-seven rating and paced the defensemen with three goals and six points (3-3=6), while managing 18:17 TOI.

Prior to joining Chicago, Maatta spent six seasons with Pittsburgh from 2013-19 after being selected by the Penguins in the first round, 22nd overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.

A two-time Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017, Maatta amassed 124 points (29-95=124), 118 penalty minutes and a plus-61 rating in 427 career games with Pittsburgh and Chicago. In 78 career playoff games, the 6-2, 210-pound blueliner totaled five goals and 22 assists for 27 points.

The native of Jyvaskyla, Finland has represented his country at multiple international events, including a bronze medal win with Team Finland at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and a fourth-place finish at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He also appeared in three IIHF World Junior Championships from 2011-13, and in 2011 was the youngest player to ever represent Finland in that event, while also competing that year at the IIHF Under-18 World Junior Championship.

As part of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, Maatta won back-to-back OHL Championships in 2012 and 2013, highlighted by 37 points (10-12=37) and a plus-21 rating in 40 postseason games. He also collected 13 goals and 57 assists for 70 points in 115 regular season games over that span.

Morrison appeared in 17 games last season with the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL), tallying six goals and 13 assists for 19 points.