The Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a six-year extension, valued at $24.5 million. General manager Jim Rutherford stated that the contract begins next season and will run through the 2021-22 season, with an average annual value of $4.083 million. The blueliner would have become a restricted free agent on July 1.
The contract includes a limited no-trade clause in the last two seasons, and he can choose eight teams he cannot be traded to, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. Pittsburgh also buys two of Maatta's unrestricted free agent years.
"It feels awesome," Maatta said, NHL.com reported. "I'm really happy I signed a long deal and I'm happy to be part of this organization."
Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan is also pleased to have Maatta re-signed. "I think it's great for Pittsburgh's organization and great for Olli," he said. "We really value him as a player."
Maatta was drafted 22nd overall by the Penguins in the 2012 draft, and he had nine goals and 29 points in 78 games played. This season, the 21-year-old has six goals and 16 points in 53 games played.
Another extension took place in the Eastern Conference this week. The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Braydon Coburn to a three-year extension at an annual average value of $3.7 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. His contract contains a full no-trade clause in the first two years and a partial no-trade clause in the final year, according to McKenzie. The Saskatchewan native was acquired from the Flyers last season in a trade.
This season, he has one goal and nine points in 60 games, but he is tied for fourth on the team with a plus-8 rating, according to Tampa Bay's official website.
Both teams are expected to make the playoffs.
