Pittsburgh Penguins may be tipping their hand regarding Olli Maatta

Oct 8, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman

(3) moves the puck behind the net ahead of Carolina Hurricanes center

(42) during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

What appeared to be a minor news item from Thursday’s morning skate may point to how the Pittsburgh Penguins are approaching a looming major decision.

Deryk Engelland, the workmanlike 31-year-old defenseman, took rushes with forwards Joe Vitale and Harry Zolnierczyk on the Penguins’ fourth line at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said it was the third time Engelland had practiced as a forward this year and that “it’s a possibility” he will see action at wing during upcoming games.

Skating Engelland at forward may be simply a result of injuries to James Neal, Beau Bennett and Matt D’Agostini, which have left the Penguins shorthanded in the wing position. Engelland has a minus-16 CORSI rating (a.k.a. shot attempt differential) in two games played this season, so perhaps he can contribute some of his trademark physical play at wing without getting Pittsburgh goalies bombed with shots.

But this approach by the Penguins may also indicate their seriousness in keeping 19-year-old rookie blueliner Olli Maatta on the NHL roster for the long term. Since Maatta still has junior eligibility left, he must either stay in Pittsburgh the whole season or be returned to his junior club, the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, before he plays 10 NHL games.

Maatta has dressed for all six Penguins contests so far, recording two assists. Although his plus-minus rating is minus-2, he has a respectable CORSI of minus-4, even after posting a minus-8 in the past two games. The common characteristic of Maatta’s last two games? He was paired with Engelland for those.

Looking past the numbers, Maatta displays a calmness and poise that belies his age and experience level. The thought of him returning to the OHL seems absurd, and Bylsma himself admitted recently that Maatta was making a case for an NHL call-up last spring. Maatta’s maturation has obviously continued since then.

Thursday morning, Maatta skated alongside Robert Bortuzzo and Kris Letang, although Bylsma said there is “no timetable” for Letang’s return from a lower-body injury. It seems Maatta and Bortuzzo will make up the Penguins’ third defensive pairing for this evening’s rivalry matchup with the flagging Flyers.

If Maatta stays with the Penguins for the duration of the season, that will give the team nine NHL-caliber defensemen. Engelland could easily become fodder for the waiver wire in that case, and Pittsburgh still has AHL options left with Bortuzzo. Engelland’s audition on the wing doesn’t bode well for his future with the team, while also speaking highly of Maatta’s early impact.