Olli Maatta’s Pittsburgh Career Up in the Air

By Rachel Mangan

Olli Maatta has had a lot of bad luck in his short career thus far, but the baby-faced 22-year-old blonde has always shown nothing but determination and perseverance. After suffering from shoulder injuries, mumps, concussion, and even cancer, the young defenseman has always found his way back to the ice.

On February 26, 2016, Maatta was rewarded for his efforts with a six-year contract extension.

According to Spotrac, the contract is worth $24.5 million, with an average salary of about $4 million a year.

In his first campaign with the Penguins in the 2013-2014 season, Maatta proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with ending the season as the team’s rookie of the year, with a total of nine goals and 20 assists.

Things went south, though, as Maata’s second season with the Pens was limited to a mere 20 games. The 20-year-old was diagnosed with a cancerous thyroid tumor that had to be surgically removed. Removing the tumor did not require any chemotherapy or radiation treatment and, he was projected to have a full recovery.

David Perron Returns Home

Star seeks cup with former team

Photo St. Louis Blues

By Rachel Mangan

After spending three  years on teams like the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins  and Anaheim Ducks, David Perron  has finally returned to where it all started in 2007.

On July 1, Perron signed  a two-year, $7.5 million deal with St. Louis, where he began his NHL career (h/t Chris Pinkert of NHL.com).

Perron was drafted by the St. Louis Blues back in 2007 , and he has spent the majority of his career in St. Louis thus far. However, he did take a few detours before returning to the starting place of his NHL career.

Perron  was one of the more productive forwards on the Blues, scoring 20-plus goals in two out his first three seasons with the team.

Crosby’s Absence Concerning Considering Concussion History

Sidney Crosby diagnosed with the 4th concussion of his career

Rob McKinney

Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski – USA Today Sports (via CBSSports.com)

The Pittsburgh Penguins played their first game of the 2016 NHL regular season last night.

Before the puck dropped, the Penguins organization honored the 2015-16 Stanley Cup team by raising a Stanley Cup Champion banner in front of 19,758 fans.

This moment was bittersweet as captain Sidney Crosby was on the ice for the pregame show but didn’t play in the game against the Washington Capitals due to a concussion.

Crosby’s concussion was suffered last week during practice, but rumors are still circulating about the injury occurring in the World Cup of Hockey back in September.

Whether Crosby injured himself in practice or in the World Cup of Hockey, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that the Penguins could be without their best player for several games.

Is the World Cup of Hockey Worth the ‘Price?’

Photo credit: Richard Wolowicz of Getty Images (h/t gohabsgo.com)

Star players could risk injury for national pride

By Rachel Mangan

This year marked the start of the third World Cup of Hockey, which starting with this year’s will occur every four years, much like the World Cup of Soccer. It’s for this reason that the World Cup of Hockey generates so much excitement: from line combinations and teams you would never see in the NHL to a cure for the “offseason blues.”

But, there are some risks that come with playing in the World Cup, the biggest one being injury. As we’ve already seen, many players had to drop out before the start of the tournament due to lingering injuries or the risk for aggravating a current injury.

One of the players I found in the tournament to be most concerning is the presence of Montreal Canadiens goalie, Carey Price.