Kubalik is exactly what Zadina was supposed to be, and still could be. It might just end up being in another city for Zadina, as the Top 6 depth chart is passing him by. This injury obviously doesn’t help Zadina at all.
He plays with much more of that confidence Zadina still lacks every night. There is no reason to think Kubalik won’t continue this either. His points aren’t secondary assists and bounces going his way. He’s good for 4-5 scoring chances every night it seems. He creates his own shot, finds the seams on the ice, and is now being used with Perron as their 2 top options on the PP. With his shot, none of that changes with Bertuzzi or Vrana returning.
While everyone is noticing Kubalik, let’s also not forget about the other steal of UFA so far. Technically Husso was a trade… and as good as Chiarot has been to my surprise, it’s not him either.
It’s been Olli Maatta… Hands down.
Nobody expected how good he was going to be after Yzerman signed him immediately as UFA opened. Maybe that should’ve given everyone a clue.
Maatta wasn’t necessarily signed to become Filip Hronek’s security blanket, but whatever the case, he’s not only that, but Maatta is playing legit Top 4 minutes and he’s been extraordinary given what they signed him for. 1 year at $2.5 million.
He looks like what Pittsburgh (and most scouts) thought they drafted. A two-way Dman who’s logging a lot of quality minutes.
It’s as if Maatta spent the last couple of seasons in LA quietly defining his game in his own zone, and now he’s putting his entire game together finally.
It just proves the right situation is so important for young dmen, but also for veterans in many cases. This is what Maatta was supposed to be when the Pens drafted him. We seen glimpses of it early on with Pittsburgh but they left him with way too much responsibility at such a young age. When he needed a security blanket he was left out in the cold. Much like Hronek the last couple years in Detroit. Maybe it’s why they play so well together. He’s been the best influence on Hronek, while at the same time, has taken his own game to a level almost everyone had given up on him ever reaching.
If Detroit lost Maatta to injury, this great start they’ve had could go south real quick. That’s how important he’s actually been in Detroit. Probably more important than Kubalik has been, picking up the Bertuzzi and Vrana slack.
His play itself has been so solid, they will end up with a nice asset come the deadline if it continues, but don’t be shocked if Yzerman gives him another 2 years. Even with the 3-4 kids knocking on the NHL’s door. That’s how good Maatta has been. Showing how sometimes it’s just as important to be in the right situation as a veteran too.
Unlike Kubalik, I’m not sure if Maatta can keep this up though. Keep waiting for the decline in his play but he’s just been as solid as it gets.
So we shall see but as we approach the 1/4 mark of the season, it’s very apparent Yzerman hit the lottery with most of his summer acquisitions. Remember, he signed these players immediately when UFA opened. They targeted Maatta and Kubalik, and it couldn’t have started any better for either player, Lalonde and the team.
Maatta was always solid defensively, the main issue was that he's skating in molasses. Maybe his skating has improved, but IIRC he always had a strong start with his new team, but eventually his play drops. Maybe that won't be the case in Detroit and i'm not understating what he's done so far, simply that Maatta's skating eventually gets exposed on every team he's been on.
