Pens' Maatta has cancerous tumor removed; could play again next week
In the latest chapter of hockey players are the toughest athletes in all of sports, we present to you Olli Maatta.
The Penguins confirmed on Thursday that the tumor removed from the defenseman's thyroid gland last week was cancerous. Then the team offered an eye-opening prognosis for the 20-year-old.
Despite the announcement, the team said on its Twitter account that coach Mike Johnston believes the defenseman could be playing within a week.
Maatta said he wants to play tomorrow, but will be cautious. #Pens Coach Johnston said Maatta is at least 5 days away from returning.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 13, 2014
Maatta played the first month of the season, even playing three games after the team announced in late October he would have the surgery to remove the tumor. At the time the Penguins said their team doctor believed there was an 85-percent chance the tumor would reveal low-grade thyroid cancer — precisely what it turned out to be.
Maatta practiced with the team for the second time since the Nov. 4 surgery on Thursday and said despite the health scare, he is ready to go right now.
After finishing fifth in Calder Trophy voting last season, Maatta had one goal, five assists and a plus-1 in 10 games this season before the surgery.
