Over the next few weeks leading up to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft on June 23rd in Pittsburgh, I'll be covering some of the potential first-round selections for the Ottawa Senators. After their first-round elimination at the hands of the New York Rangers, Ottawa was locked into the fifteenth-overall draft pick -- a beautiful landing spot for a playoff-caliber club.
Since Ottawa could essentially go in either direction be it forward or defenseman, I'll be touching on a variety of talented prospects expected to step towards the podium in the middle of the first-round. Up next? Olli Maatta.
Team/League: London Knights, Ontario Hockey League
Position: Defenseman
Size: 6'2", 198 lbs.
Production: Maatta's first year playing a North American style of hockey with the London Knights of the OHL was an overwhelming success. The two-way blue liner tallied 32 PTS (5G/27A) in 58 games played, leading the team in scoring amongst defensemen. Further, he finished with an impressive +25 rating. However, it was in the post-season where Maatta's stock -- offensively speaking -- boomed. In nineteen playoff games, Maatta lit up the stat sheet, tallying twenty-three points (6G/17A). Prior to his work in the OHL, Maatta lit up the Finnish junior ranks, professional ranks, and international game. A fluid skater and quality puck-mover, Maatta developed his game along two other NHL prospects in Jarred Tinordi and Scott Harrington, polishing his two-way play at the tender age of eighteen. As of late April, ISS rankings project him as the thirteenth best player in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Interesting Quote: Maatta's always had some intriguing attributes, but the way he's bought in defensively in his first-year transitioning from the European game is remarkable. Love this quote from the kid regarding his role in the London Knights defense:
"You watch our guys block shots, of course it's a good feeling," London defenceman Olli Maatta said. "That's what we're trying to do in our own end. The forwards have been great not letting them through. You block as many as you can with your body."
If the New York Rangers, et al. have shown the National Hockey League anything, it's that you truly need guys who buy in to the team-concept defensively. Maatta and his teammates have been selling out for the London Knights all season long, and it's boosted his draft stock accordingly.
Here's OHL Prospects' Brock Otten on Maatta:
“Every time I saw Maatta play this year I was impressed. Not just with his defensive game, but also his offensive awareness and skill level. Everyone already knows how good he is defensively. He contains the rush so well by maintaining strong positioning and by using his stick very effectively. He’s proof that you can be a very effective defensive player without being overtly physical, even if that area of his game will need to improve before reaching the next level. But it’s his offensive game that is understated. Whenever I saw him, I always had to ask myself, why isn’t this guy putting up more points? His OHL playoff production was no fluke. He’s a strong two-way defender and not just the bland “meat and potatoes” kind of guy I’ve seen others suggest he is. Offensively he can skate the puck out of traffic in his own end and can start the breakout either with a strong first pass or a good rush. He jumps into the play effectively and became increasingly more aggressive in this area as the season went along. His shot on the powerplay really improved over the course of the season too. Right now, I’m having a tough time deciding on whether to rank Cody Ceci or Maatta first among OHL defenseman on my list.”
Trouble Areas: As mentioned previously, Maatta's offensive stock has absolutely boomed after his terrifying run through the post-season. Still, there's many questions as to his ceiling as a two-way player, as he's not the flashiest scoring defender, and his offensive-game as a whole is limited in contrast to other first-round picks. Further, although a talented defensive player, some scouts do want to see more of a snarl and physical game from the Finn. Maatta's fantastic at playing the body, but he does appear to be missing the 'big hit' mentality some like to see from a defenseman slated to be drafted in the first-round.
Why Ottawa?: As mentioned already when discussing Griffin Reinhart, the defensive prospects in Ottawa's system really don't blow you away. There's a lot of potential pieces that could draw in down the road, but following the departure of David Rundblad, none have the ultimate potential or upside you like to have at your disposal in the AHL/junior ranks. Maatta's considered a two-way defender, but Bryan Murray and the front office suits have to love just how capable he is as a DFD -- a player Murray's expected to target both in the draft and through unrestricted free agency.
If Not Ottawa -- Where?: Maatta's draft stock skyrocketed in the past couple of months, but he's one of the bigger question marks as to where he'll fall right now. There's no question that some love his overall skill set, and some scouting services have him inside of the top-ten. On the other side of that coin, there's talking heads like Craig Button of TSN who believe he's more likely to go later in the first-round. Personally, I think Maatta's playoff run is going to force him off the board well before Ottawa drafts at fifteen, potentially as high as the Winnipeg Jets at nine or the Washington Capitals at eleven. On the low-end, should he get by a slew of teams (including Ottawa), I'd look at the Chicago Blackhawks at eighteen.
If Ottawa thinks Maatta is their man, they may very well need to trade-up to get him.
Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»