The Penguins have assigned defenseman Olli Maatta to their farm team in Wilkes-Barre.
Seriously.
But not for long.
His demotion is part of the team's maneuvering to become salary-cap compliant by 5 p.m., when NHL teams must finalize their 23-man regular-season rosters.
Maatta, no worse than the Penguins' second-best defenseman, should be in the lineup when they open the regular season Thursday in Dallas.
At the same time Maatta was assigned to Wilkes-Barre, center Oskar Sundqvist was recalled from the Baby Penguins.
Because the Penguins have only 12 other healthy forwards, it's conceivable he will stay on the major-league roster, although that is not expected.