Penguins get first rounders Olli Maatta and Derrick Pouliot under contract

3:12pm - Wed, Sep 12th, 2012 by DePaoli

The Pittsburgh Penguins this afternoon announced that the team has signed first round picks Derrick Pouliot and Olli Maatta to three year entry level contracts. Pouliot was taken 8th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft and Maatta was taken 22nd overall.

The deals for both players begin when they turn professional and join the organization.

The signings are smart for the players as it's possible compensation could be lower for entry level contracts under a new CBA and the NHL has been looking to expand entry level deals to four to five years.

SCOUTING REPORTS

Olli Maatta Age 18

TIOPS No. 4 Prospect

Born: 8-22-1994, Jyvaskyla, Finland ,

Height: 6-2 Weight: 206 lbs

Position: Defense Shoots: L

2012 1st round pick

2011-2012 Team: London Knights OHL

2011-2012 Stats: 58 GP | 5 Goals - 27 Assists - 32 Points |

2012-2013 Outlook: Maatta just 18 years old, will return to juniors and play for the London Knights this season. Maatta is likely a good three years away from pushing for NHL action.

Scouting Report: In the mold of a Scott Harrington, Maatta plays a rock solid two-way game and is a player the Penguins had rated as a top-15 player on the board. "Penguins definitely got a steal where they got him, " Harrington a teammate of Maatta in London said in July at the Penguins development camp. "I definitely thought he'd go top 10 for sure. He's just an all-around two-way defenseman." Like Harrington, there's nothing real flashy about Maatta's game but he plays with a lot of poise and confidence who can play in all situations......... Maatta has a strong hockey IQ and what's so intriguing about Maatta's upside is that he already has great size at 6-2, 206 lbs.

Potential- Top-4 defensive defenseman who can play all situations

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