The Utah head coach spoke about Olli Maatta and his addition to the lineup.
Tonight's game between Utah and Calgary carries tremendous weight, and that's why Andre Tourigny is happy new trade acquisition Olli Maatta will make his debut this evening.
Maatta, picked up from Detroit on Tuesday night for a third-round choice in next year's NHL Draft, gives Utah a needed veteran presence after losing their top two defencemen for multiple months with injuries.
"He's a good NHL defenceman," Tourigny said. "He brings size and stability to our back end."
Size and stability will be key tonight, especially coming off Monday's unthinkable blowup against San Jose, but more importantly, as general manager Bill Armstrong said earlier Wednesday, Maatta's addition brings a calming influence to the lineup.
"We needed a veteran NHL defenceman," Tourigny said of Maatta. "Olli will provide guidance and help for a lot of our young guys."
Projected Lines: Calgary vs. Utah HC
Forwards
Clayton Keller - Barrett Hayton - Dylan Guenther
Matias Maccelli - Logan Cooley - Nick Schmaltz
Alex Kerfoot - Nick Bjugstad - Lawson Crouse
Jack McBain - Kevin Stenlund - Olli Maatta*
Defence
Mikhail Sergachev - Michael Kesselring
Vladislav Kolyachonok - Juuso Valimaki
Maveric Lamoureux - Ian Cole
Goaltender: Connor Ingram
Scratches: Michael Carcone, Robert Bortuzzo, and Liam O'Brien
*Lineup Note: Utah will dress seven defencemen tonight. Olli Maatta's addition to the fourth line is for aesthetic purposes; Tourigny said the new acquisition will rotate with Juuso Valimaki and Maveric Lamoureux in those respective pairings.