Blackhawks trade Maatta to Kings

The Chicago Blackhawks have traded defenseman Olli Maatta to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Brad Morrison, the Kings announced Sunday.

"Olli is a well-rounded player who will fit well with our group of defensemen," Kings general manager Rob Blake said. "He is a young player that already has a lot of valuable NHL experience, including a pair of Stanley Cups, and we look forward to having him join our organization."

Chicago is retaining roughly $750,000 of Maatta's $4.08-million salary for each of the next two seasons, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

The move appears to be a salary dump for the Blackhawks, as Morrison spent his 2019-20 season with the ECHL's Fort Wayne Comets, registering 19 points in 17 games. Selected by the New York Rangers in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, the 23-year-old hasn't played an NHL game to date.

Maatta, 26, joined the Blackhawks in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer. The 2012 first-round pick has notched 124 points in 427 career games and won two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh.

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