In a necessary attempt to alleviate some cap space, GM Jim Rutherford and the Penguins traded defenseman Olli Maatta to the Chicago Blackhawks for young forward Dominik Kahun and a 2019 fifth-round pick.
Removing Maatta’s more than $4 million cap hit was a huge move to create space to add talent around the Penguins’ core and stock the roster for next season. However, during an interview with Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 The Fan, Rutherford admitted that a different, more controversial defenseman was also in discussions to be moved.