What's the Maatta With Scratching Olli?

Back on February 26, the Penguins showed some confidence in a young kid from Finland named Olli Maatta. Despite his struggles over the week or two prior to February 26, the Penguins’ rewarded him with a 6-year contract extension worth $24 million ($4 million AAV). Some thought that the extension was primarily a desperation effort to get Maatta to play to the potential he has. Others believe it was a mere show of confidence in a young kid who has had a small sample size in the NHL due to various injuries.

Regardless, here we are on April 19th, hours before game three between the Rangers and the Penguins at Madison Square Garden. Olli Maatta, a day prior, practiced on a pairing with Derrick Pouliot during line rushes and it had many people wondering if it had any significance. The question burns: Is scratching Olli Maatta a viable option?

I personally don't see a huge problem with it. As a young kid, and a very mature one at that, Maatta has got to realize that in the playoffs there isn’t too many mulligans awarded to players. You've got to put your best, most consistent lineup on the ice game in and game out. He has struggled to keep up with the pace the Penguins have set over the last couple of months

In fact, Maatta’s foot speed has been a struggle for him all season long. He has been blown past numerous times and made out to look like a fool. With the speed the Penguins have now and the consistent slow skating he's had, Maatta looks like the odd man out heading into tonight’s game and possibly going forward.

With the resurgence of Ian Cole, Ben Lovejoy’s return from injury and playing solid defense, and Justin Schultz’s trade to Pittsburgh, Olli’s game almost seems unnecessary as of right now. The Penguins decided to go with Maatta over Schultz Saturday afternoon in a move surprising to me. I had thought they'd consider scratching Cole or Lovejoy in favor of Schultz, but with your third string goalie starting a playoff game, I see why Mike Sullivan decided to go with a defensive minded lineup.

There is probably a ton on the kid’s mind. Not only is he dealing with the pressure of playoff hockey, he's heading back to Finland over the offseason to do his mandatory serving in the Finnish army. He's coming off multiple surgeries over the past few seasons that have limited how many games he has played. Yet, Maatta has handled all of this with grace and a smile on his face.

It almost hurts to say it but scratching Maatta is what the team needs to do. I'll be the first to defend Olli and tell you how much I love the man, but this is the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's not about being a nice guy and giving people chances. The Penguins have other options and are better suited looking in that direction for the remainder of the playoffs if it gives them the best chance to win. So, what's the Maatta with scratching Olli?