Steve Yzerman shored up the Detroit Red Wings‘ defense by adding Olli Määttä on opening day of NHL free agency.
Yzerman’s first deal was to bring in forward Andrew Copp, who projects to fill the need as second-line center.
Määttä got one year at $2.25 million. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder has 136 points and a plus-70 rating in 534 games.
[ NHL free agency updates: Moves for Red Wings, around the league ]
Määttä, 27, projects to add depth down the left-side defense. With Danny DeKeyser and Marc Staal becoming unrestricted free agents, the Wings have Määttä under contract, Jake Walman is a restricted free agent, and 2021 first-round pick Simon Edvinsson projects to make the team this fall.
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